What you said about problems with Qld health and ambulance system

A third death has been linked to Queensland’s strained ambulance and health system in less than a month – and many have had enough. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

A third death has been linked to Queensland’s strained ambulance and health system in less than a month – and many have had enough.

An elderly man suffered a catastrophic fall in his Hervey Bay home on December 2 and died after an ambulance failed to show up in time to help him despite multiple frantic calls, according to his distraught family.

The tragedy is expected to reignite pressure on the state government and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, with a full review into the incident to be carried out by Queensland Ambulance Service.

The death comes after Cath Groom, 51, died in early November after an ambulance failed to arrive at her Brisbane home despite multiple calls, and 67-year-old Ipswich man Wayne Irving died in the back of an ambulance waiting for a hospital bed.

Ambulances at Hervey Bay Hospital emergency department.

In the latest case in Hervey Bay, the man’s wife rang triple-0 late on Saturday afternoon after he suffered a fall and was wedged on his walker.

News of the latest health system failure sparked an angry response from readers.

Some again took aim at the state government, while others alluded to wider issues that prevent significant change.

See what you had to say below, cast your vote and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

What a joke!

Odin

I hope Fentiman isn’t one of those capable ministers Anna refers to.

Fnqaus

As long the 2032 Olympics have enough money set aside we all don’t have a problem!

Geoff

it is far more important to get a new stadium than provide services that save lives.....another great decision by our government …

Nicholas

Ah yes but we’ve got the Olympics ….

H

We are the only ones who can save this country people, State and Federal Labor must go!

Time to fix this mess

Jennifer

Will continue to happen as there just aren’t enough staff.

Rumball – forever pending

When everything is blamed on it being “extremely busy”, you know there’s something really wrong. When it’s always busy, it’s completely under resourced. We’ve been hearing this line for years from the bueaurocrats

TerryW

This whole situation just goes to show how redundant the government and health system is and how uninspiring the bureaucrats really are. There would certainly be enough qualified ambulance staff to increase the number of ambulances by 100% if there was only one qualified paramedic assigned to an ambulance while the second person was a dedicated driver with advanced driving skills and an advanced first aid certificate. Remote ambulances attend as a matter of daily need with only one ambo in attendance and it is common for either a police officer or fire officer to drive the ambulance while the Ambo attends to patient.

It is way past time these idiots in control started to think outside of the box, firstly cut out the bureaucratic garbage and get the job done.

Robert

Shouldn’t the buck stop with the premier do something Anna

Ambulances at Hervey Bay Hospital emergency department.

There are wider issues

Richard

Very sad but it probably would have happened under LNP government also. When you look at how many people called ambulances and used the Emergency Department over that weekend it’s clear demand outweighed resources. Have to ask how many patients required Emergency care and how many wasted their time?

Michael

We can’t isolate ourselves in our houses. Where was the community assistance? I would not just rely on ambulances who are stressed to the max because of overuse by non urgent medical issues.

Jacqueline

I was in sydney last week, saw a news report of a union rally in support of higher wages for ambos. it was said Qld was trying to steal paramedics from NSW by offering a 20% pay rise and a $10000 payment on signing up and another$10000 after staying 1 year. if report is true, it shows how low they have sunk

Daryl

Not just a matter of money. There is an international shortage of trained medical and paramedical people.

You can’t just say drop the Olympics and all will be well.