Urgent action needed on funding for Redlands health services

As the “argy-bargy” continues between state and federal ministers over funding cuts to health services on the Redlands Coast, Mayor Karen Williams has spoken for community.

Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams has called for action on increasing capacity at Redlands Hospital as the “argy-bargy” between the state and federal governments over funding cuts continued.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the coast yesterday, Cr Williams said “people don’t care where the money comes from ... what level of government pays ... they just want it done”.

“We need to increase capacity of the hospital,” she said.

“We need to do the planning around that.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams and Bowman MP Andrew Laming in the Redlands yesterday.

The wrangling between the state and federal governments over funding cuts erupted again as Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles came to loggerheads with Bowman MP Andrew Laming over funding for critical services in the region

“Today, Scott Morrison and Andrew Laming need to commit to reversing the $52.7 million in cuts to Metro South and Redland Hospital.” Minister Miles said.

“Unfortunately, what we’ve seen so far is Andrew Laming failing to stand up to Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt to advocate for the Redland Hospital.

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Kim Richards Member for Redlands urged the Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reverse spending cuts to Metro South and Redlands hospital

Redlands MP Kim Richards also called on the Morrison Government to “urgently reverse” Redland Hopsital cuts.

“In stark contrast to the Liberals, the Palaszczuk Government is delivering a record $2.408 billion in 2018-19 for Metro South, a $93 million increase,” she said.

“We’ve increased funding year-on-year since coming to government.”

“This funding includes $1.73 million to expand Redland Hospital’s Emergency Department and upgrade Maternity Services.”

She said the State Government funding increase “means four new beds to keep up with demand as well as a water birthing suite”.

Liberal Member for Bowman Andrew Laming said claims the Federal Government had cut funding to Redlands Hospital were false.

But Bowman MP Andrew Laming said there had not been a $52.7 million Federal Government cut from the Metro South and Redland Hospital budget as claimed by State Health Minister Steven Miles.

Mr Bowman called on the Queensland Government to release the full budget figures for Metro South to the public.

“The Coalition has continued to increase funding every year, including fourteen per cent increases year on year in Metro South,” Mr Laming said.

“Labor has a habit of inventing an amount of money that they never invest while they are in Government, so they can claim ‘cuts’ throughout the terms of a Coalition Government.

The real issue is when hospital funding actually falls. That is what is happening in three regions while it is going up everywhere else.”

Mr Bowman said the Commonwealth increased MetroSouth funding by $83 million last financial year and projected a $93 million increase this financial year.

“Labor cuts are 3.6%. QLD Labor has all the hospital breakdowns but refuse to release, even though they allowed Don Brown to release the Redlands staffing budget, but not the rest of the budget,” Mr Bowman said.

What the Mayor discussed with the Prime Minister

• health care
• Birkdale Commonwealth land petition
• Island access to e-health
• detailed design to improve hospital access for ambulance vehicles also addressing parking
• telecommunications on the bay islands