‘Real anger’: Ley lashes Labor over Far North bed blockers
Calls to end the Far North’s bed blocker crisis and boost Federal funding for public hospitals has intensified with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accusing Labor of short-changing the health system.
Calls to end the Far North’s bed blocker crisis and boost Federal funding for public hospitals has intensified with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accusing Labor of short-changing the region’s health system.
But Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said the burden on hospitals had been eased through increased investment in urgent care clinics, more bulk billing and greater support for GPs nationally.
More than 100 long-stay patients are occupying a bed within Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service currently, costing the health system hundreds of thousands of dollars per day and straining resources.
“When I saw that Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) had written to Premiers to say he was walking back a promise to deliver hospital funding, I felt the real anger from Premiers across this country,” Ms Ley said.
“Are we really suggesting that the Prime Minister is telling Queenslanders that they can’t turn up in an emergency and get treatment?
“That they shouldn’t be sick? That somehow the funding that this hospital system needed is not there because this Prime Minister can’t manage his own budget?”
Under the current proposal, the Federal government has reportedly offered to pitch in 35 per cent for hospital funding — a 7.5 per cent shortfall on what was previosuly promised states and territories have argued.
“What we’re seeing with (Premier) David Crisafulli and (Health Minister) Tim Nicholls is the initiative and desire to get hospitals doing the best they can for all the Queenslanders,” Senator James McGrath said.
“It’s sad that Prime Minister Albanese has broken another promise and is walking away from his commitment, not just to Queenslanders but to all Australians.
“The ball is squarely in the court of the Labor Prime Minister to come to the table to make sure that Queensland and far north Queensland get the funding they need.”
Mr Smith said a series of measures had been implemented since the global pandemic to take pressure off hospitals.
“The Medicare urgent care clinics are designed specifically to take pressure off Emergency Departments,” So if you break a leg, dislocate an ankle or need to be stitched up, you can go there rather than wait in the ED.
“There are now 24 fully bulk-billed GPs in Leichhardt. That’s going to take people who thought that they couldn’t afford it to go and see a GP.”
Negotiations with the state and territories were ongoing, Mr Smith said.
“We’re also advocating for more aged care in the region so that you don’t have those bed blockers,” he said.
“I know there’s been a 12 per cent uptick in funding in the last sort of 18 months or so, but if the hospital system is saying it’s not enough … I believe they’re worth listening to.”
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Originally published as ‘Real anger’: Ley lashes Labor over Far North bed blockers
