Premier commits to six state-owned bulk billing GP clinics

The LNP won’t reveal plans it has for a much-needed Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department upgrade following Labor’s $50 million promise to build a new ED there.

The LNP won’t reveal plans it has for a much-needed Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department upgrade following Labor’s $50 million pledge to build a new ED there.

The LNP won’t reveal plans it has for a much-needed Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department upgrade following Labor’s $50 million pledge to build a new ED there.

When asked if Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates would match Labor’s 11th hour election promise for the Rockhampton ED, her department instead referred to the LNP’s plan for a “pipeline of hospital upgrades and new hospitals”.

On a whirlwind trip to Rockhampton on Wednesday, Premier Steven Miles committed six state-owned bulk billing GP clinics would open in Rockhampton under a returned Labor government.

Premier Steven Miles holds a press conference in Rockhampton on the election trail with Health Minister Shannon Fentiman. Pics Adam Head

It was the Premier’s third time in Rockhampton with Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

Ms Fentiman made the ED upgrade announcement last week, saying the project (to be completed in 2027) would double treatment spaces from 14 to 28, deliver a new fracture clinic, expand the short stay unit and increase the number of resuscitation spaces from three.

That late election promise came just a week after Ms Bates likened the outdated and often cramped Rockhampton ED to a “war zone”.

“It definitely has passed its use-by date and when I asked (staff) if there was something on their wish list, (they asked for) a separate pathway for mental health staff patients coming into ED and that is part of our plan (for the hospital),” she said.

When asked last week if the LNP would match Labor’s upgrade promise, a spokesperson referred to a previous statement by Ms Bates.

“Master planning is already underway and the LNP has already committed to the future pipeline of hospital upgrades and new hospitals in our Better Health, More Services plan,” Ms Bates said last week after Labor’s ED promise.

“Labor simply can’t be trusted on health, they’ve had a decade to upgrade the Rockhampton Hospital ED and have done nothing, despite Rockhampton having the worst ambulance ramping in regional Queensland.”

“Only after the LNP shone a light on record ambulance ramping in Rockhampton and announced a plan to provide more space for the hospital has Labor tried desperately to distract from their health record.”

Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates during a media conference at the Nursing Clinics at CQUniversity, Rockhampton. Picture: Liam Kidston.

She said in 2020 Labor promised Central Queensland a new dialysis unit, a refurbishment of the mental health ward and a new cardiac hybrid theatre and hadn’t delivered on these promises.

The Morning Bulletin, in light of Ms Bate’s strong criticism of the ED, asked the LNP again asked for more details about its plans for an ED upgrade given the urgent need.

There was no response.

Earlier this month the LNP committed $95 million to build the state’s first regionally based Health Sciences Academy in Rockhampton to help high-achieving local students become doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals where they live and provide the region with a pipeline of health workers.

That health sciences school will take two years to build.

Rockhampton Four ambulances parked outside the Emergency Department at the Rockhampton Hospital.

Ms Bates said, if elected, the LNP planned to heal the health crisis starting with “more resources, better triaging, releasing data in real-time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care”.

She said the LNP would work with hospitals and health services to establish the number of extra beds Rockhampton hospital required and train and hire the workforce to support that increase.

She also said they would establish additional space at the hospital by moving substantial non-clinical facilities to nearby TAFE buildings in Canning Street which would become vacant as part of the LNP’s $61.1m TAFE Precinct of Excellence expansion plan for the North Rockhampton Campus (an election promise).

Originally published as Premier commits to six state-owned bulk billing GP clinics