Qld Health jobs bonanza in $1.3b promise
The LNP has pledged a $1.3 billion cash injection that would create thousands of health jobs across the state and promised to restore rural maternity units,
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The LNP has unveiled a plan to restore rural maternity units if elected to power later this month.
Chinchilla and Theodore will trial on-demand birthing services with a new dedicated local team of medics.
This announcement comes as the Opposition also pledges a $1.3bn cash injection to create thousands of health jobs and improve patient care across the state. The commitment would mean 2530 more nurses and midwives, 320 more paramedics, 750 more doctors and 840 more allied health professionals under an LNP government.
Rural maternity is close to the heart of LNP Leader Deb Frecklington who was born in a bush hospital.
“I was born in a regional hospital and I understand how crucial maternity services are to families. Providing better regional health services closer to home is not only good for local families but encourages more people to live in rural and regional Queensland,’ she said.
A recent poll by the Australian Medical Association of Queensland showed that almost half of the state’s doctors labelled the closure of rural and regional units as “extremely dangerous” and one quarter said the decision was “catastrophic”.
“The LNP’s plan will offer local birthing services to low-risk pregnancies that can be safely undertaken at the Chinchilla and Theodore Hospitals,” Ms Frecklington said.
Following a Bush Babies campaign in The Sunday Mail the Labour Government put in place a pilot maternity program to lead to the reopening of services including Theodore. Health Minister Steven Miles also announced a midwife scheme to be trialled at Chinchilla.
But the LNP said they are sick of Labour’s “talkfest” and have announced that the plan for Chinchilla and Theodore is based on a similar model that has operated out of Goondiwindi. It will be implemented through a co-ordinated clinical team by Darling Downs and Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services.
An LNP government would appoint an on-demand service coordination team for Chinchilla and Theodore as an initial 12 month trial. The trial will involve a local team of additional registered nurses and midwives. It includes upskilling existing staff, a shared rural generalist and local incentives to recruit and retain staff. It will cost $1.14m for the first 12 months and utilise a midwifery continuity of care model. If successful, the program could be rolled out to restore other maternity services in regional places like Mossman..
LNP Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said Labor’s health priorities were all wrong.
“As part of the new recruitment drive, the LNP will empower local Hospital and Health Service boards to implement strategies to recruit and retain more health specialists in regional communities, with recruitment targets to measure performance,” Ms Bates said.
Mother of two Ali de Strang lives in Theodore. She was unable to give birth at her local hospital in Theodore, 560km northwest of Brisbane, as maternity services had been reduced. Ms de Strang had to travel to Gladstone to deliver son Layn. She also had to drive more than 1300km to different hospitals in the final weeks of her pregnancy for check ups.
“I don’t care who is in power but all I know is the women of Theodore deserve to deliver babies safely near home,” she said.