Patients say no beds in Children’s Ward for sick kids

Gympie parents who were forced to take their sick children to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital have confirmed reports that the Gympie Hospital Children’s Ward is no more

Gympie residents say children are regularly shuttled from Gympie Hospital to the Sunshien Coast when presenting for treatment as questions continue to swirl around the fate of the hopsital’s Children’s Ward.

Gympie parents who were forced to take their sick children to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital have confirmed reports that the Gympie Hospital Children’s Ward has been shut down.

The absence of a paediatrician meant a Gympie boy suffering from an asthma attack had to be taken to the Sunshine Coast, where he remained for a week.

Another parent said countless children have been shuttled to the SCUH.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath’s office remained silent yesterday despite a Gympie Times request for clarification on the status of the ward on Monday.

Questions to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services also failed to throw much light on the matter, with a spokesman saying there was still outpatient and “targeted bed-based” paediatric care available but children in need of specialist services were being sent south to SCUH.

Questions to Health Minister Yvette D'Ath about the status of the Children’s Ward remain unanswered. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Gympie residents have had their say on social media.

Matthew Joy spent a week out of town following his son’s asthma attack.

“Recently had to spend a weekend down the SCUH when my four-year-old had an asthma attack because there were no paediatricians and apparently the Sunshine Coast is the closest hospital for some silly reason,” he said.

Trina Barnes also raised her concerns about how the Gympie Hospital was being forced to deal with child cases.

“When you spend a bit more time there you see them shuttling ambulances to the coast every day,” she said.

Parents have spoken up online saying children are regularly being shuttled south to the Sunshien Coast when presenting to Gympie Hospital.

“One time I took my daughter to the Gympie Hospital and they‘d already sent more than 10 children to SCUH that day alone,” she said.

In a separate comment Ms Barnes claimed “staff knew it was closing as far back as 2018”.

Other readers were firm in their stance the ward should remain open, with a number recounting nothing but good experiences when its services were needed.

Catherine Buckley said she was lucky to only have had one child need its care “but their level of service was second to none”.

“Couldn’t fault it,” she said.

Michelle Theodore said the “staff were great” when her son had his tonsils and adenoids out.

But there were some cracks showing.

“The hospital ward itself needed some TLC, mostly materialistic (fresh paint etc),” she said.

“I believe its very important to have and the whole hospital should be our town’s priority to expand, repair and provide better parking.”