Ros Bates toured Mackay Base Hospital, said public and private sectors are set to share resources in Covid outbreak situations

As Mackay Base Hospital undergoes an extensive review into its proceedings, Ros Bates said it was heartening to see progressive steps in place.

As the Mackay Base Hospital undergoes an extensive review into patient complaints and inundated emergency services, political pressure has been placed on Queensland Health.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli drew comparisons to issues at Caboolture, and said the region deserved a genuine and thorough report into the hospital’s proceedings.

But Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the issues in Mackay were different to what patients faced in Caboolture.

“If there are any cases of botched surgery, unlike Caboolture the Mackay Hospital and Health Service will consider compensation for patients that were harmed, and that was very heartening to see that was being considered here,” she said.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates toured Mackay Base Hospital after complaints were made and a review into proceedings began. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“Every patients’ life matters, everyone who may have been harmed matters.”

MHHS chief executive Lisa Davies Jones said the review process could not be rushed, and support was being provided for the patients that had come forward with complaints.

“We are in direct contact with women who have provided feedback on their obstetrics and gynaecology care,” she said.

“What we are ensuring is that we continue to support those who have come forward.

“A clear pathway to compensation for personal injury already exists in Queensland.”

Mackay Base Hospital has issued four Code Yellows in 2021, prompting an internal protocol for more capacity in October.

The Open Data Shadow Minister Brent Mickelberg said ambulances were waiting too long before patients arrived at the emergency department.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm (left) and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli at Mackay Base Hospital asking for a 'thorough and genuine review' into Queensland Health, November 8, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“Twenty-seven per cent of ambulances wait longer than 30 minutes with a person in the back of the ambulance who should be in the emergency getting treatment,” he said.

“For every single one of those ambulances that sit on a ramp, that’s an ambulance who can’t respond to the people of Mackay in their hour of need.

“It’s simply not good enough.”

Shadow Treasurer David Janetski (left), Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli at Mackay Base Hospital asking for a 'thorough and genuine review' into Queensland Health, November 8, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Ms Davies Jones said she welcomed the independent investigators and expected a thorough review of the hospital’s proceedings.

“Three of the investigators are pre-imminent clinical experts in their respective fields of gynaecology, obstetrics and midwifery, and the fourth investigator is an experienced consumer representative,” she said.

“The investigation is now entirely in the hands of the investigators who will conduct their process absolutely independent of the MHHS.”

Originally published as Ros Bates toured Mackay Base Hospital, said public and private sectors are set to share resources in Covid outbreak situations