Govt denies $20m bill to run Caboolture ER

The State Government has denied Queenslanders will have to pay up to $20 million for a private company to operate Caboolture Hospital's emergency department.

The State Government has denied Queenslanders will have to pay up to $20 million for a private company to operate Caboolture Hospital's emergency department.

Coalition Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said Aspen Medical, the private firm that has managed the hospital’s embattled emergency department since March 2006 under a $13 million contract with Queensland Health, now wanted to increase the bill to $19 million – almost three times the cost of a publicly-run facility.

"The Health Minister has not confirmed whether his department will fork out the extra $6 million but I would certainly hope this is not the case given the blow-out cost of the contract," said Mr Langbroek.

"Originally the Minister claimed the private management of the ward would only cost tax-payers $7 million; so far we’ve paid more than double that and now he wants to treble it.

"Basically, Queenslanders are paying the price for Labor’s incompetence in running the public health system at no real benefit to patients outside of Caboolture.

But Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Aspen Medical had not asked the government to provide any extra funding whatsoever.

“The Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department Review Report prepared by Aspen Medical and its recommendations are currently being considered by Queensland Health.

“The report is a blueprint for the future after Apsen Medical has handed back management of the emergency department to Queensland Health next March.

“Future funding for staffing costs would be allocated through the local health district budget, not Aspen Medical who would no longer have any involvement in the Caboolture emergency department.

“The report reviewed Caboolture Hospital’s Emergency Department operations and makes recommendations for short, medium and long term initiatives to improve the capacity and efficiency of the department.

“A number of key recommendations have already been implemented; including the introduction and funding of two Nurse Practitioner positions and an emergency department Nurse Educator position.

“A new model of care for delivering Emergency Medicine Services has also been developed for the emergency department and has the potential to be utilised by other outer metropolitan hospitals.”

Mr Robertson said the Aspen report also made a number of recommendations relating to staffing and physical infrastructure.

“Aspen Medical recommended in the report that after it hands back management of the emergency department to Queensland Health next March, Queensland Health should - over several budget cycles - progressively increase recurrent funding for staffing costs associated with the Caboolture emergency department from the current $13 million per year to $19 million per year.

“Queensland Health has already increased funding for emergency department staffing at Caboolture Hospital by an additional $1million to $13 million in 2007-08.

“The report also recommends a reconfiguration of the emergency department layout to improve patient flows and to provide space for clinical education and training.

“For the longer term, it also recommends a redevelopment of the Caboolture Hospital emergency department in 5-7 years time to meet the needs of a growing local population.”

Mr Robertson said funding submissions for future staffing initiatives or infrastructure projects will need to be developed by Queensland Health for consideration by government in a budget context.

Queensland Health is currently progressing emergency department upgrades at Redcliffe, Redlands, Logan, Cairns, Gold Coast, Gympie, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Miles and Dalby hospitals.

New emergency departments have recently been completed and opened at The Prince Charles and Robina hospitals.

Originally published as Govt denies $20m bill to run Caboolture ER