Dozens of frustrated Gold Coast residents attended the latest LNP Health Crisis Town Hall in Pimpama today, as the Opposition fights for a better healthcare system.
The Town Hall heard harrowing stories like a man who relived the day he was having a heart attack while the ambulance he was in was forced to bypass the Gold Coast University Hospital for Robina due to ramping.
Another attendee says she called 12 psychologists trying to find mental health support for a veteran, only to be told local clinics didn’t have room for new patients.
The LNP Health Crisis Town Halls have seen hundreds of honest Queenslanders from across the state share their health horror stories
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says the stories have been incredibly moving, but are sadly individual windows into a failing healthcare system.
“The LNP is on a mission to heal the health system,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Surgery wait times are getting longer, ambulance ramping is getting worse and the culture within Queensland Health is crumbling.
“Half of all patients taken to GCUH are forced to wait in the back of an ambulance longer than the clinically recommended time.
“Labor is losing control of the health system.
“Cuts are being made to the frontline at a time service levels are in crisis.
“Healthcare workers are giving it their all, but the system meant to support them is failing.
“The LNP has put several solutions on the table including better triaging, more beds and introducing real time data for emergency departments.
“Following meetings throughout the state, some locals had finally received the treatment they deserved.
“These individual wins show the power of shining a light on a sick system.”
Shadow Health Minister and Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates says the Gold Coast is the epicentre of ambulance ramping in Queensland. “Emergency Department wait times at GCUH have blown out to 32% of patients not seen within clinically recommended time.
“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how frustrating it is for our hard-working frontline staff who are desperate for more resources.”
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