Gold Coast doctors warn of Delta outbreak once Queensland border reopens, blame political bickering

Gold Coast medical experts say the city’s already-stressed public health system will be overwhelmed once borders reopen and Delta spreads - and they’ve placed the blame on bickering politicians.

GOLD Coast medical experts say the city’s already-stressed public health system will be overwhelmed once borders reopen and Delta spreads because bickering politicians do not want to “pick up the bill so nothing gets done”.

“I think all healthcare workers have significant concerns,” said Dr Kat McLean, General Practice Gold Coast board chairman and GP.

“Our health system functions are at, or close, to capacity at the best of times and recent population growth on the Gold Coast has created additional pressure.

Sydney, NSW. 13th July, 2021. Photo: Kate Geraghty

“We are also still grappling with a backlog of work that we are catching up on from the impact of the pandemic disruption last year. We have finite resources and need to do everything possible to minimise the impact on our healthcare system of increasing Covid cases.”

The Australian Medical Association wants the state’s health department to release real-time data on hospital ambulance ramping and bed capacity. Emergency specialists, surgeons and doctors say there’s a real threat hospitals will be overwhelmed when free travel is permitted.

A Bulletin investigation in early 2019 revealed the Gold Coast’s two public hospitals had 1000 beds between them, 500 fewer beds than the national average.The Australian Medical Association reported public hospitals across the country had on average 2.6 beds for every 1000 people. The Gold Coast’s average, with a population of 591,000 at the time, was 1.69.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young gives a Covid-19 update at North Lakes health precinct. Saturday October 2, 2021. Picture, John Gass

The Nurses Professional Association branded the state government “incompetent” and said 1000 public hospital beds was simply not enough for the Gold Coast’s ballooning population.

Months later, the Bulletin reported that exhausted staff were working double shifts to treat more than 500 patients every day in struggling emergency departments.The number of patients seeking urgent help at the Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals jumped to 15,117, despite them receiving only 40 extra beds. Tired university hospital staff took the unprecedented step of inviting the Bulletin into the emergency department to see firsthand the chaos inside the nation’s busiest ED.

Since then, medical experts say problems with ambulance ramping and hospitals at code yellow capacity have worsened. 

A new hospital at Coomera is unlikely to be built for 10 years.

Last week, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said extra federal funding was needed to help Queensland open up and cope with an increase in demand on hospitals.

She said too many people who should be receiving NDIS funding were taking up beds and that when the city’s GPs had no bulk-billing appointments patients visited public hospitals.

“The Commonwealth government needs to fund us for those beds,” she said.

Dr Sonu Haikerwal. Broadbeach Picture by Richard Gosling

“It will impact our entire economy if our health system cannot manage Covid.”

But prominent GP and Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic owner Dr Sonu Haikerwal said medical professionals were frustrated at being caught in a political crossfire.

“We’re sick of the blame game, who is paying for what, it’s like a couple fighting about who will pay for a household item. Too much politics is being done. It’s like no one wants to pick up the bill so nothing gets done.

“I’m also frustrated because over the past two years it’s like we haven’t done anything to prepare our health system for when we open. We are going to get Covid. I think the Gold Coast’s health system will be overwhelmed.”

Dr Haikerwal said the city’s lower than average vaccination rate was also a problem, and despite asking for her clinic to be given the Moderna Covid vaccine, she was still waiting for it.

“Why are only pharmacies getting it? All vaccines should be made available to every healthcare professional.”

Gold Coast Primary Health Care director and Robina GP Dr Lisa Beecham said the Gold Coast Health and Hospital Service and the Gold Coast Primary Health Unit had been working collaboratively since the pandemic started.

A health worker is seen at a drive through Covid-19 testing clinic at Murarrie in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“There is active planning underway. What we need is an outstanding effort by the public to get vaccinated, continue to practice social distancing and wearing masks.

“If you are still waiting to be vaccinated then you are not protecting yourself and your loved ones now while you have had ample opportunity.

“There is no time left to wait as we know the vaccines are very effective and have excellent safety profile. We all should be far more scared of Covid and long Covid than the vaccine.”

Dr McLean said recent statistics show only 38 per cent of Queensland’s population was fully immunised, 48 per cent of over 16 and the city was close to 70 per cent having one dose.

She urged those waiting for the jab to get it immediately to protect vulnerable groups.

“Immunisations help considerably but immunisations alone won’t be enough to protect our healthcare system. Testing, contact tracing, masks and other public health recommendations will still be needed,” she said.

Follow @emilytoxward