A bombshell leaked policy document reveals Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) staff have been instructed to park patients on trolleys in corridors to attempt to hide how bad ambulance ramping has become.
Meanwhile new health data has exposed Queensland has hit a new record, with the worst ambulance ramping rate in Queensland’s history at 45.5%.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has demanded answers from embattled Health Minister Shannon Fentiman in Queensland Parliament this week.
Mr Bennett tabled a Question on Notice to Minister Fentiman this morning.
WBHH staff have been issued an inpatient overflow policy, titled ‘Inpatient overflow DEM V1.0’ and dated 30.04.2024, that directs staff to place patients on trolleys in corridors. Can the minister advise a) how long this policy will be in place? b) if this is the new standard management practice to reduce ambulance ramping data?
Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said Labor couldn’t be trusted to heal the Queensland Health Crisis.
“Instead of fixing the Health Crisis, Labor has been exposed as moving patients around to attempt to hide how bad ambulance ramping has become in our Hospital,” Mr Bennett said.
“With Labor, it’s always about how things look, not how things are.
“Staff have been directed to park emergency patients on trolleys in corridors to improve ambulance ramping data.
“In an effort to disguise ambulance ramping, our loved ones are now spilling out into hospital corridors, still waiting to get into the Emergency Department.
“This leaked document exposes just how desperate Shannon Fentiman and Labor are to hide the facts and fudge the numbers.
“Whistle-blowers are now so fed up with Labor’s failure to resource and run our health system properly they’re leaking the truth about what’s happening inside our hospitals.
“Queenslanders are paying a high price for the chaos and crisis that has engulfed the Palaszczuk-Miles Government.
“In a shocking new low, they are using our loved ones to cover up their poor management.
“This just shows Labor isn’t up to it and they can’t be trusted.”
LNP Candidate for Bundaberg Bree Watson said our frontline clinicians and paramedics have been let down by a decade old Palaszczuk-Miles Government that hasn’t properly planned or resourced our hospitals.
“Changes to policy that aims to manipulate data disrespects our hard-working doctors, nurses and paramedics,” said Ms Watson.
“They’re the ones who bear the brunt of distressed families who are forced to wait and watch while loved ones line the corridors.
“These tactics cause the community to lose faith in the system when they need it most.
“Only the LNP has the Right Priorities for Queensland’s future, including easier access to health services.”
* Leaked document – ‘Inpatient overflow DEM V1.0’: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kgncfs33xr7509v28xa2u/Inpatient-Overflow-DEM-V1.0-30042024.pdf?rlkey=rcu2fxnmigat3bmzs9pqig1uv&st=apubxcik&dl=0
ENDS.
21/05/2024