General News
14 October, 2024
Health pledges are a positive mix
HEALTH was front and centre this week with multiple headline-grabbing announcements by the major parties, which appeared to balance out any points of contention, and getting approval from the AMA.
Speaking on Brisbane’s 4BC Afternoons this week, AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said at this stage, both parties had listened to the stakeholders across the state, and in our region, had provided solid solutions.
“Both sides of politics have our priorities, and it’s promising that some of these plans are being implemented in some of those policies that are being announced,” he said.
He said the state’s healthcare system was under strain, with a big influx of population and an ageing population, and importantly, the differences between regional and Brisbane needs were being acknowledged.
“Our healthcare needs in regional rural areas are different to a metropolitan area. So it’s very welcoming that we are going to get some input from the local health areas, because the needs in those local health areas are different compared to Brisbane, for example.”
Among the recent announcements was the LNP’s $590.09 million Easier Access to Health Services Plan, spelling out the healthcare sector initiatives it would introduce is in addition to the current health budget.
David Crisafulli said the Plan would get ambulance ramping down to under 30 per cent within the first term, stop surgery waitlist from growing any bigger within 12 months. And provide extra CT and MRI services for satellite hospitals.
Dr Yim said more detail would be welcome on a big picture approach to reduce ramping currently sitting at 45.5 per cent in the last quarter.
“I guess it’s not just about the ramping, it’s the flow through the healthcare system… Obviously we do need to ensure that there’s enough workforce available. So that’s doctors, nurses, allied health. At the same time, we do need beds, and we need to ensure that our hospital and healthcare sector is working efficiently, so we ensure that there is patient flow even on weekends.”
The LNP also brought the health challenge to Yarrabah by focusing on transport. The party announced it would build better transport infrastructure with a $2.6 million commitment during a visit to the community last week.
This included relocating the helipad to be adjacent to the hospital, to provide easier access to health services and improving car parking to improve safety around the precinct for families, and workers.
Key highlights to the LNP plan included: a stop to Labor’s patients’ tax: 7; improved Acute Admission doctor conditions, expanding transit lounges, boosting Alcohol and Other Drug rehabilitation services; putting frontline staff on health boards; adding an extra 34,200 doctors, nurses and paramedics by 2032; reinstating maternity services: and increasing new hospital beds.
Over at the Labor Party, leader Steven Miles release a detailed summary of the achievements in, and plans for, the health sector, to counter and debunk LNP’s barrage of criticisms.
As well as the recent $40,000 incentive to train general practitioners out to 2030, Labor had reduced stretcher transfer times to within 30 minutes, compared to last year; averaged a four-minute reduction in ambulance travel time; ED wait times had improved significantly, including in Cairns, which saw a 5.2 per cent improvement in ED Seen in Time; and a two-minutes reduction in median wait times.
“The Miles Government’s $1.14 billion Putting Patients First plan is delivering more beds, healthcare workers and solutions like our nation leading Satellite Hospitals program and expanded Transit Lounges to improve patient flow in Eds,” he said in a statement.
He said the government’s $1.14 billion Putting Patients First plan was already delivering more beds, healthcare workers and solutions including the satellite hospitals program and an expanded transit lounges system.
Dr Lim said “at first glance, it is very, very positive. I think it’s something where these plans and from both sides of politics, it’s highly commendable... [However], we do need to ensure all parts of the politics are committing to these promises.”
