Question Time blog: Opposition claims government downplaying Mackay Base Hospital 'crisis'

The state government has been accused in Queensland Parliament of  hiding the significance of the "crisis" facing Mackay Base Hospital during a rowdy Question Time. QUESTION TIME BLOG

Patient deaths and allegations of botched surgeries has prompted the Opposition to accuse the government of hiding the significance of the "crisis" facing Mackay Base Hospital. 

 

The Opposition used question time to raise the issue of several patients who had died after being admitted to the hospital.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli raised the case of Barbara, who died at Mackay Base Hospital after being administered the wrong drugs and suffering a brain bleed after going in for routine shoulder surgery.

He asked Health Minister Yvette D'Ath whether the "crisis" at Mackay Hospital was more serious than the government had portrayed.

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Tony Martin

Ms D'Ath said it was a "serious issue" and accused the LNP of being "reckless and irresponsible" by asking questions without knowing the facts of the case.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm has claimed a patient at the Mackay Base Hospital suffered a heart attack in ICU however it wasn't "picked up" immediately before a doctor resigned four weeks later.

Ms D'Ath said allegations the Opposition was raising were serious and that she would appreciate any additional information they could provide.

Earlier, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk  revealed Queensland had recorded no new local Covid cases in the past 24 hours while one was detected in hotel quarantine.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk said more than 71 per cent of Queenslanders are now fully vaccinated.

Queensland Health administered 14,432 vaccines on Tuesday bringing the state's first dose rate to 82.75 per cent. 

Ms D'Ath said health authorities were currently working with people in hotel quarantine to transition them into home quarantine. 

Ms Palaszczuk has announced a raft of sporting heroes including Darius Boyd and Payne Hass will visit jab hubs at schools this weekend to help boost the vaccination rate.