Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service CEO on poor ratings

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s leader has spoken out on its recently uncovered “poor” rating when it comes to safety, quality and organisational stability.

Leadership changes, the construction and opening of a hospital more than five years ago and the Covid-19 pandemic have been blamed for the Sunshine Coast health service’s continued poor performance.

Leadership changes, the construction and opening of a hospital more than five years ago and the Covid-19 pandemic have been blamed for the Sunshine Coast health service’s continued poor performance.

A question on notice from the state opposition has uncovered that the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service was on the lowest rating of “intensive performance support” as at November 30 2022.

The service covers the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie and the performance rating comes as it was revealed more than 800 fracture appointments in Gympie Hospital were transferred to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital from January 2020 to November 2022.

Gympie’s fracture clinic closed for two months last year and, in 2021, some parents were forced to take their children to the Sunshine Coast because there was no paediatrician in the Gympie Hospital.

Member for Buderim Brent Mickelberg said it was the fourth consecutive year the region’s health service received a poor rating and described them as “terrible” scores.

Buderim MP Brent Mickelberg says the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s ratings over the past four years are “terrible” scores. Picture: Liam Kidston

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie said residents deserved to know why their hospitals had consistently recorded the worst performance level.

“This isn’t the fault of our hardworking doctors, nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals,” Mr Bleijie said.

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie says the poor rating is not the fault of hospital staff. Picture: Liam Kidston

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service chief executive Peter Gillies said performance was “influenced by a range of factors” including the construction and opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the Covid-19 pandemic and changes in executive leadership.

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital opened in 2017.

Dr Gillies said the service continued to provide “excellent” care.

“Presentations at our emergency departments have increased and our clinical staff continue to work hard to triage, assess and care for patients within recommended waiting times,” Dr Gillies said.

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital was opened in 2017. Picture: File

He also said there was a decrease in the number of patients waiting longer than expected for their surgery in recent months.

In 2021, expert financial advisers were called in after the health service slumped $27m into the red.

Dr Gillies said the health service’s budget had increased by $66m this financial year, excluding Covid-19 funding, and it was delivering a financial recovery program.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said the rating factored in safety, quality and organisational and financial stability.

A state government spokesman said the rating framework did not necessarily represent the level of care provided by a particular hospital.

“The LNP didn’t plan or build one health facility when last in power, instead they sacked 4400 health workers including 1800 nurses and midwives,” he said.