Real-time data won’t be ‘silver bullet’ to fix Qld’s hospital woes, Opposition claims
Real-time hospital data won’t be the ‘silver bullet’ to fix ambulance ramping and ED waiting times, the LNP has been warned, as the deadline for its 100-day plan nears.
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Real-time hospital performance data won’t be the “silver bullet” to improve ambulance ramping and improve emergency department waiting times, the opposition says.
The state government pledged to publish real-time hospital performance data within 100 days of being sworn in – on which the deadline is February 9 – to improve transparency and ease pressure on emergency departments.
Only 25 hospitals will be captured in the scheme, with dozens of smaller facilities excluded.
Providing live hospital wait-time data to improve efficiency was first flagged by the LNP in April 2021 amid claims the Labor government was “losing control” of the stressed health system.
However, opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey said questions remained about its ability to fix the system.
“David Crisafulli has less than two weeks to publish real-time hospital data, his silver bullet to improving everything at Queensland Health,” Mr Bailey said.
“He promised this would ease pressures on the health system, ease ambulance ramping, improve emergency wait times, and improve patient care.
“David Crisafulli has broken promise after promise so far. His promise that real-time data will be the magical cure for all of Queensland Health’s woes will just be the another one of those broken promises.”
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Tim Nicholls insisted a detailed announcement about real-time data would be made before February 9.
Australian Medical Association of Queensland previously supported the plan and said it would help improve patient flow and hospitals to identify surge periods.
Publishing up-to-date health data is one of eight tasks yet to be completed as the government’s 100-day deadline looms.
Premier David Crisafulli also pledged, prior to the state election campaign, to boost the capacity of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prepare matters “backlogged in Labor’s DNA lab debacle” for court and release information about the levels of rape kits in Queensland hospitals.
He also pledged to assess staffing levels across regional Queensland maternity services, begin work to tender for regional reset camps, the staying on track rehabilitation program and establish a working group with victims of domestic, family and sexual violence to influence future policy.
Guidelines for funding extra-curricular activities for kids in the child safety system are also due to be released before February 9.
A spokesman for Mr Crisafulli said the remaining promises would be delivered.
“The Crisafulli government is absolutely committed to delivering its 100-day plan by the 9th of February,” he said.
“Queenslanders voted for a fresh start – which is exactly what we are delivering – with 35 items of the 100-day plan already completed.
“Every promise we made is on track, and Queenslanders can be confident we will deliver real results after a decade of Labor’s broken promises.”
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