Labor warns of hospital cuts but won’t take blame for RBWH overcrowding

Labor and the LNP have both refused to take the blame for shock revelations about just how bad overcrowding is at Queensland’s largest hospital.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls

Health Minister Tim Nicholls has sidestepped questions about overcrowding at Queensland’s largest hospital, so bad a gym was converted to take patients, while denying the LNP is poised to slash planned hospital expansions.

Labor has meanwhile dodged taking responsibility, despite admitting shock claims that Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital patients had been treated in a gym were “very concerning’’.

Some patients were also placed in recovery wards at night, before being wheeled out into corridors in the morning, and the maternity ward was used to treat 16 overflow geriatric, oncology and surgical patients.

Mr Nicholls did not answer questions on Friday about whether he was aware of the problems or what he would do about it, but slapped down Labor claims that a government audit of the hospital “Big Build’’ program would lead to cuts.

“It’s no news that emergency departments in Queensland are under pressure. That’s why we’ve made a commitment to address these matters,’’ Mr Nicholls said.

“But we can’t turn the mistakes of 10 years (under Labor) around in 112 days.

“That’s why we’re working on it, that’s why we’re continuing to invest in upgrades.’’

Mr Nicholls committed to the current capacity expansion program, which included 2200 new beds across the state from Cairns to the southeast.

“Let’s not forget, though, that the money allocated for those is almost exhausted and there has been a blowout of over $6.1bn, so it makes sense to conduct a review to see how we can best deliver those capacity expansion programs,’’ he said.

He expected to receive the audit report by the end of this month, in line with a promise when it was first announced.

“We want to make sure that clinicians are involved. We’ve had instances, for example, of hospitals being designed without pharmacies, without operating theatres, without cardio theatres.

RBHW Hospital - Photo Steve Pohlner

“So there is a long way to go but we are firmly committed to it.’’

Shadow Health Minister Mark Bailey conceded the whistleblower claims about RBWH were “very concerning’’ but did not accept any responsibility on behalf of the Miles government.

He described Mr Nicholls’ accusation that the overcrowding was a result of Labor mismanagement over many years as “a lazy response from a lethargic minister.’’

“The booming population in Queensland is why the previous Miles Labor government invested $28bn in terms of health and hospital rebuilds,’’ he said.

“We had three new hospitals, 11 hospital expansions, seven satellite hospitals and of course the Queensland Cancer Centre located in the RBWH.

“This huge Big Build program is under threat from the audit by the LNP.

“We know when the LNP say audit, the cuts are about to come.’’

He said that in three-plus months under the LNP there had already been cuts, including to nurse-led clinic hours, the worker attraction incentive scheme, the Townsville Hospital expansion and Townsville’s peri-natal unit expansion.