July 2, 2014
The push to build a new hospital in Kingaroy now has two strong voices in Canberra following a visit to the South Burnett by Federal senators Fiona Nash and Matthew Canavan today.
Senator Nash is the the Assistant Minister For Health and the federal MP responsible for rural, regional and indigenous health.
She was joined on her visit by Senator Canavan, who only took up his Senate job two days ago.
He was eager to check out the hospital after his 79-year-old grandmother had a stay in the facility recently.
Senator Canavan said his grandmother had been treated very professionally by staff but she could also see how “insufficient” the building and facilities were.
She had spoken to the closest politician she knew, her grandson, who in turn had contacted the local State MP, Deb Frecklington.
“I said: ‘What’s going on? It needs to change’ and Deb (Frecklington) said ‘you’re absolutely right’.”
Senator Nash said the hospital was primarily a State responsibility but the more voices that were raised – and the more people with influence who understood the problems – the more likely a positive outcome.
She said it was very clear the medical staff at the hospital were “absolutely fantastic” and the equipment seemed quite good. However the problem was the facility itself.
“I am meeting with (State Health Minister) Lawrence Springborg tomorrow morning and I will be raising the issue of Kingaroy Hospital,” Senator Nash said.
“It will be the first thing on my agenda.”
Senator Nash said it was important to recognise the breadth of services offered at Kingaroy Hospital: an average of 450 babies delivered every year – one of the highest rates of birthing in regional Queensland – and between 14,000 and 15,000 presentations to the Emergency Department.
“That’s massive yet the staff manage that really well in very difficult circumstances. It is an absolute credit to them,” she said.
While the party was visiting the hospital, a medical emergency occurred – which was quickly attended to – but reinforced to the visitors the restricted space the medical staff have to work in daily.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service CEO Dr Peter Bristow said initial costings for a new hospital were $70 million, but he emphasised this was a very preliminary estimate.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said she had been lobbying for a new hospital for two years or more and had found Health Minister Springborg “extremely open” to listening to the arguments.
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board had also recognised that Kingaroy Hospital was the hospital of greatest need in the Darling Downs health district, however the State Government didn’t have “buckets of cash”.
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