Qld hospital crisis: The numbers they don’t want you to see

The Health Minister faces mounting pressure amid revelations hospital patients are being pushed into foyers and claims of data manipulation.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

• ‘Systemic’: Qld hospitals on life support

The state government has been accused of fudging hospital figures as exhausted nurses push patients into corridors and foyers.

Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland reported staff were suffering relentless overtime, emotional exhaustion, burnout and lack of resources across the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, which covers Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Maryborough hospitals.

Nurses said they were rostered to babysit patients in corridors as bed shortages at the hospitals pushed patients out of emergency departments into foyers and other wards.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey called for Health Minister Tim Nicholls to take responsibility for the struggles facing staff.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey. Picture: Richard Walker

“These reports by health staff confirm the Crisafulli government is fudging emergency department figures to make themselves look good, instead of delivering better outcomes for patients,” he said.

“(Premier) David Crisafulli and Tim Nicholls must reverse their 24-hour patient directive that could financially punish hospitals.

“This rule is adding unnecessary pressure on already stressed medical staff who are dealing with a high number of patients in our emergency departments because of the government’s inability to prepare for the annual flu season.”

Mr Nicholls on Sunday blamed the former government for the problems facing the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.

“Labor’s failed hospital build program and a decade of under investment left Queensland with the worst ambulance ramping in the nation and a doubling of the surgery waitlist,” he said.

Originally published as Qld hospital crisis: The numbers they don’t want you to see