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Question Time to focus on state's health system after death of five-year-old boy discharged from Logan Hospital
The State Government is again under fire over the health and hospital crisis, with Health Minister Yvette D'Ath making one promise as an investigation continues into the death of a child after his discharge from Logan Hospital. QUESTION TIME BLOG
The pressures facing Queensland's health system will be clearer within days as Health Minister Yvette D'Ath pledges to release key performance data before the end of May.
The Palaszczuk government, facing a question time grilling about the state of the health system, will release the latest performance data this month.
The most recent data relates to December.
Ms D'Ath revealed the latest data would be released in May, before Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was asked by former foe Deb Frecklington what was stopping the government from releasing it now.
Ms Palaszczuk said she was advised it would be released in May, and last year's was released in June.
"It's going to be released earlier than it was last year," she said.
Her comment prompted interjections from Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.
"You were duds then and you're duds now," he shouted.
The Opposition has claimed ambulance ramping has worsened since December and Queenslanders are struggling to receive quality care.
It comes as Queensland Health has confirmed an investigation into the tragic death of a five-year-old child in Logan.
Hiyaan Kapil died following his discharge from Logan Hospital on Sunday night.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has also seized on figures which reveal paramedics lost 130,000 hours through ramping in 2021. In the Metro South Hospital and Health Service paramedics spent 2860 hours ramped in December, up from 2045 hours in January 2021.
In Metro North 1673 hours were lost through ramping and in West Moreton 1542 hours were lost.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said 2.49 million people presented to Queensland emergency departments last year.
"It should be noted that the health system experienced a number of internal and external factors during 2021, namely the impact of Covid-19 on the system," she said.
"It should also be noted that the complexity of our patients who attend our hospitals over this time has been increasing."
Updates
Question time dominated by health, ends
Qld's high power prices defended by Premier
Opposition State Development Minister Michael Hart asked the Premier why the government was “allowing wholesale power prices” in the state to be the “highest in all of the Eastern Seaboard”.
He noted that some daily house energy prices were “sometimes double” than other areas of the Eastern Seaboard.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was “advised that our retail prices are still the lowest,” and that the government was “still investing in a whole range of energy infrastructure”.
She said the government had provided dividends to Queensland families to assist with household energy costs.
“A return back to families because we’ve kept our energy in public hands,” the Premier said.
Mr Hart called a point of order, saying he specifically asked about wholesale energy prices but the Premier refused to continue her response to the question.
– Taylah Fellows
Minister pledges to look into Emerald ED upgrade
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has been asked about an apparently stalled upgrade to the emergency department at Emerald.
Gregory MP Lachlan Millar asked when the people of Emerald would get their promised upgrade following $10m in funds provided in a previous federal budget.
She said she would look into it.
"We all know the Commonwealth said a lot of things but didn't necessarily follow through with the commitments that they made," she said.
"So I'll find out exactly what happened with funding and where that's at."
Ms D'Ath went on to highlight a lack of Commonwealth work regarding primary health and regional health care that had impacted on state services.
– Jessica Marszalek
'You can find it': D'Ath hits back at LNP
Opposition Deputy Leader David Janetzki has asked Health Minister Yvette D’Ath how many Queenslanders are waiting for elective surgery.
Ms D’Ath took aim at the Opposition saying it was “clearly going to be a repetitious question time”.
She pointed to her previous answer stating hospital data would be available later this month.
“As far as the current data that is available, its on a public website and I’m sure they can find it,” she said.
– Taylah Fellows
KAP pushes Bailey for better Townsville access
Katter Australia Party MP Nick Dametto asked Minister for Transport Mark Bailey if he would increase main access into Townsville.
Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government had invested $1.6m in transport planning for North Townsville, including Mr Dametto’s specific request for better access on Woolcock St.
“The project looks at a range of traffic issues in the area including how best to address the congestion,” he said.
Mr Bailey said the 1.6 million project, which is expected to commence “in the next couple of months,” would also take into account roads in proximity to the Ross River, two bridges, rail crossings and proposed developments in the area.
He offered Mr Dametto a meeting to provide a "full briefing” of the project, before spruiking various aspects of the government's $1.18 billion worth of transport projects to be delivered in the state’s northern region.
Mr Bailey said the government was in the stage five of the $230m Townsville Ring Rd upgrade had commenced, with a further $99m allocated to northern access to Townsville and $96m towards the Burdekin River Bridge.
“This will mean cheaper imported products into North Queensland,” Mr Bailey said.
– Taylah Fellows
Premier's burn: Morrison's chickens came home to roost
Opposition frontbencher Christian Rowan has asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk whether she agrees with her deputy Steven Miles that GPs not seeing sick patients was a cause of the ramping problems in Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk revealed health would be on the agenda of the next national cabinet meeting with the new Albanese government.
"All of the states are dealing with similar issues and similar pressures," she said.
"Thank goodness there is now a federal Labor government."
Ms Palaszczuk said the Opposition thinks Covid and the flu "isn't having an impact" and said hundreds of beds were being taken up by people who should have been in aged care.
"The Morrison Government failed to do anything to get them out," the Premier said.
"The chickens came home to roost on the weekend."
– Hayden Johnson
Why shouldn't Queenslanders see 'health crisis' figures?
LNP frontbencher Brent Mickelberg has asked Health Minister Yvette D'Ath why Queenslanders don't deserve to see the numbers behind the "health crisis".
She responded by saying the performance data would be released this month.
Ms D'Ath used the opportunity to talk up Queensland Health's performance during the final quarter of the 2021 calendar year.
– Jack McKay
D'Ath remains in firing line of LNP probe
Opposition frontbencher Tim Mander has asked Health Minister Yvette D’Ath how many Queenslanders were currently on waiting list to see a specialist.
Ms D’Ath said the government had added thousands of extra doctors and nurses to the health service, which was struggling under Covid and flu pressures.
The minister said Queensland Health was fast-tracking the surgery “we had do delay” during Covid-19.
“Our hospitals have done an incredible job," she said.
“We have done very well in provide those additional services – breast screens or other allied health services.
“We’re leading the country in many of those services.”
-Hayden Johnson
Ambulance ramping grilling continues
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has been asked how many Queenslanders are currently seen on time in emergency departments.
She did not provide an answer.
"Performance data for 2022 will be released shortly," Ms D'Ath said.
"We have been saying that for a number of weeks.
"… It will have that quarterly data to answer those questions."
– Jessica Marszalek
Crisafulli continues ramping probe
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has used his second question to ask the Health Minister how long, on average, Queenslanders have waited for an ambulance in 2022.
Yvette D'Ath again said the data would be released shortly.
– Jack McKay
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