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."