The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service remains on life support after the Palaszczuk Government handed down their 2023/24 State Budget.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said he has serious concerns about the financial state of the WBHHS.
“This budget is full of smoke and mirrors,” he said.
“In the middle of the Queensland Health Crisis, 95%, or $9.251 billion of the 2023/24 Queensland Health Budget is pushed out beyond this financial year.
“Queensland Health’s own performance statement paints a dire picture for the WBHHS.
“They budgeted $5,094 for each ‘activity unit’ in the last financial year; in reality, each unit cost $5,740. *
“You don’t have to be rocket scientist to work out that their expenses far out way their income by multiple millions.
“The WBHHS finances are clearly out of control and there is no funding in this budget to fix it.
“Will the WBHHS be forced to go into administration? Or will the Premier magically find a $50-70 million bail out?”
Mr Bennett said the chaos and crisis within the Palaszczuk Labor Government is making the Queensland Health Crisis even worse.
“The current delivery of emergency and elective services within the WBHHS is appalling.
“Category 1 specialist outpatient waiting times are miles from their target of 98 per cent.
“The actual percentage is just 72.
“That means that cancer patients referred for urgent consultation have a 7 in 10 chance of being seen in time.
“The longer these patients wait, the lower their chances of survival.”
Mr Bennett said the data isn’t any better in the Emergency Department.
“Only 55 per cent of patients are seen and treated within the four hour clinically recommended time frame,” he said.
“These are our most vulnerable and serious patients and almost half of them aren’t seen in time.
“But it gets worse, there’s no data for category 2 and 3 emergency patients with Queensland Health deeming them ‘not applicable’ anymore.
“That is pretty disgusting given the shocking underperformance at an activity level.
“I dread to think of the future quality of care when finances bite even harder.”
Mr Bennett said the touted Falls Prevention Program at the Bundaberg Hospital has also been pushed aside.
“I was seriously hoping that the Health Minister would listen to our pleas and finally roll out the Falls Prevention Program in full at the Bundaberg Hospital.
* Source: Pages 139 & 140 https://budget.qld.gov.au/files/Budget_2023-24_SDS_Queensland_Health.pdf
ENDS.
15/06/2023