Steven Miles slammed over ‘disgraceful’ GP slur

The state opposition is demanding Deputy Premier Steven Miles apologise to ‘hero’ GPs after he suggested they were making Queensland’s hospital crisis worse.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has been called on to apologise for making a “disgraceful slur” against GPs after suggesting they were making Queensland’s hospital crisis worse.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Mr Miles “must apologise” to “hero” GPs who had worked hard through the pandemic.

“The Deputy Premier’s slur against GPs is disgraceful,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Today he must apologise.

“Through Covid our GPs were heroes and have led the charge getting the population vaccinated.

“To blame them for the state government’s health crisis smacks of desperation and gutter politics.

“Queenslanders deserve solutions not excuses and blame games.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Brendan Radke

It came after Mr Miles said unprecedented demand was being seen because it was the “peak of the respiratory illness season”.

“And we also have a lot of primary health providers not treating respiratory illness for fear of exposing their patients to Covid, so that’s putting even more pressure on hospitals,” he said on Wednesday.

Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Karen Price said GPs were “flat out”, had limited resources to ensure adequate infection control, and it was not right to blame GPs for the overstretched hospital system.

She said risking a closure of their medical centre through a Covid outbreak would impact many more patients who needed care.

“Now is not the time to throw blame at GPs and general practice teams, we are doing our best in very challenging circumstances and need the full support of all levels of government,” she said.