Bundaberg Hospital ramping increases, MP Tom Smith recommits to new hospital

Tom Smith has hit back at criticism from Stephen Bennett that ambulance ramping was at an all-time high in Bundaberg, and repeated his government’s commitment to delivering a new hospital to the city.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett launched a scathing criticism of the Qld Govt on Wednesday, claiming that Bundaberg patients were being stored on stretchers in ambulances or hallways at the public hospital because of a lack of beds.

New figures from Qld Health revealed Bundaberg’s ramping rate had jumped six per cent in one month, Mr Bennett said. (Ramping is when a patient remains in an ambulance longer than the clinically recommended time of 30 minutes.)

The data shows ambulance ramping figures sat at 30 per cent in February 2022, then jumped to 36 per cent in March.

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith hit back though, saying hospitals across all states and territories continued to face unprecedented demand and it was no different in Wide Bay

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith has hit back at claims from Burnett MP Stephen Bennett that ambulance ramping was at an all-time high at Bundaberg Hospital, after Qld Health data revealed ramping there had jumped by six per cent in one month.

“Bundaberg during the March 2022 quarter, there were 20 per cent more category one emergency department presentations, compared to the same period in 2021,” Mr Smith said.

“The ongoing pandemic continues to impact our hospitals, with 50 Wide Bay HHS staff now furloughed as a result of COVID.

“The lack of easy access to bulk-billing GPs is also contributing to local health pressures.

“In the last financial year alone, there were 1380 ambulance transfers from aged care facilities to Wide Bay HHS emergency departments – an increase of 78% compared to 2018/19.”

Mr Bennett called on the State Govt to explain how it was going to fix this health crisis “of their own making”.

He called on the Premier to explain how ambulance ramping had soared despite fewer patients attending the Emergency Department, and said the situation at Bundaberg Hospital was dire.

“Old waiting rooms have been turned into makeshift wards and our doctors and nurses are doing the best they can with the equipment they’ve got,” he said.

“Exhausted paramedics are doing an incredible job under the toughest conditions, but they are being let down by this government.

“When governments fail to plan, they plan to fail.

“Time and time again, whistle-blowers are coming forward saying they’re being turned away or told to wait because there are simply not enough beds.

“The LNP has solutions on the table including more beds, better triaging, releasing real-time data and giving power back to the frontline staff to make better decisions to improve patient care.

“It’s time for the Premier to stop making excuses and fix Queensland’s Health Crisis.”

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith has hit back at claims from Burnett MP Stephen Bennett that ambulance ramping was at an all-time high at Bundaberg Hospital, after Qld Health data revealed ramping there had jumped by six per cent in one month.

Next week’s State Budget is expected to include “record funding” for Qld’s health sector.

“Given the unprecedented demand for health services, increased health funding is crucial,” Mr Smith said.

“The Premier and Treasurer have made it clear next week’s State Budget will include record funding for health.

“We remain committed to delivering a new Bundaberg Hospital which will increase the availability of local health services.”

Mr Smith took aim at the opposition, citing former premier Campbell Newman’s cuts to health while in power.

“Stephen Bennett and the LNP have zero credibility when it comes to health. The member was part of the Newman Government’s brutal cuts, sacking over 4000 frontline health staff, which impacted many Bundaberg families,” he said.

 “This just demonstrates how out of touch the Member for Burnett and the LNP are to the health concerns of Queenslanders.”