Darling Downs Health CEO requests correction from Labor MP Mark Bailey over false cancelled surgeries claim at Toowoomba Hospital

Darling Downs Health's chief executive has demanded a correction after a senior Labor MP falsely claimed 42 surgeries were cancelled at Toowoomba Hospital last month.

Shadow Health Minister Mark Bailey.

Former Labor minister Mark Bailey has blamed “crossed wires” after he incorrectly stated that 42 surgeries had been cancelled at the Toowoomba Hospital, which was strong rebuked by the region’s health boss.

Mr Bailey made the false statement to the media during a visit to the region’s health facilities in Toowoomba and Oakey on July 24.

It came after Darling Downs Health confirmed eight elective surgeries had been postponed, largely due to an enormous influx of Covid and influenza patients into emergency departments.

But during a press conference that day, Mr Bailey said the number of cancelled surgeries was more than five times the actually amount.

The Chronicle did not publish the incorrect figure.

In a letter to Mr Bailey on July 29, Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott requested a correction.

Darling Downs Health chief executive Annette Scott talks to media the day after the budget announcement of the new Toowoomba Hospital, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Regrettably, your incorrect reference to 42 cancelled surgeries reflects poorly on us as a health service and undermines the trust the community has in us,” she wrote.

“Additionally, it impacts negatively on our workforce who turn up every day to ensure that patients receive exemplary and compassionate care and are, in themselves, rightfully proud of what they achieve.

“Darling Downs Health staff work tirelessly to care for our communities and to build trust and confidence in the services we deliver.

“We trust you appreciate our need to clarify and communicate accurate information to our community.”

Mr Bailey posted the correction to his 750 followers on his Bluesky, but did not cross-post on Facebook (where he has 17,000 followers) X (formerly Twitter, 11,000 followers) or Instagram (2500 followers).

“With Toowoomba Hospital elective surgeries cancelled last week due to inadequate promotion of a free flu jab campaign by Health Minister Nicholls, I received a verbal briefing,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately crossed wires meant I mistakenly reported 42 surgeries suspended when it was eight, which I’m happy to correct.”

Speaking during estimates on August 1, health minister Tim Nicholls described Mr Bailey’s incorrect statement as “either intentional or incompetence”.

3/8/2025: Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“This is not a rookie error — information provided in good faith by the hospital and health service to the member for Miller clearly identified the circumstances in relation to the events at Toowoomba Hospital on July 22-23,” he said.

“I call on the member for Miller to apologise to the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service and to Professor Scott for doing so, right here and right now, because that would be the proper thing to do.”