Tony Perrett to address Parliament about Children’s Ward

Gympie MP Tony Perrett will speak about the petition to save the Gympie Hospital Children’s Ward on Wednesday night, after it was tabled in parliament the day before.

After a three month battle to save the Gympie Hospital Children’s Ward, its fate could be decided in the next 30 day,s after the petition to save it was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Gympie MP Tony Perrett said he would be making a speech in Parliament about the petition and the situation facing Gympie families on Wednesday night, between 7pm and 7.30pm.

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The Gympie Hospital Children’s Ward was closed in May as a result of an undersupply of paediatricians, sparking public outrage and petitions to save it.

Tony Perrett MP standing out the front of the Gympie Hospital, where the Children’s Ward has been closed down.

Children requiring specialist care or an overnight stay must travel to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, more than 90km away.

Mr Perrett tsaid on August 26, a now expired online petition garnered 3276 signatures, along with 1500 signatures on paper petitions, and roughly 3300 signatures on a Change.org petition.

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It is unclear if the Change.org petition was tabled, after creator Emily McGourty discovered it had no government authority.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath now has 30 days to respond to the petition.