Huge Response To Hospital Campaign

July 24, 2016

A one-week campaign launched by South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann to get the community’s support to save the South Burnett Private Hospital has drawn an overwhelming response.

When the campaign closed on Wednesday evening, it had received 8712 submissions – more than 70 per cent higher than the ambitious target of 5000 signatures Mayor Kratzmann set at Council’s July 15 meeting when the campaign was launched.

The Mayor said it was a “remarkable result” and demonstrated the surge of support the campaign had achieved across the region.

“Every person who signed a submission should celebrate this success,” he said.

“This collective voice represents the feelings of a wide range of members of our community.”

The final count took place on Thursday afternoon.

“Every day I talk with locals who proudly tell me they have signed the submission to save the hospital,” Mayor Kratzmann said.

“My desk is buried in bundles of #saveOURhospital submissions.”

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Scott McLennan, from South Burnett Radiology, said the loss of the Private Hospital would have a far greater effect than many people realised.

“The expertise of our visiting specialists will be lost to our existing medical and healthcare services,” Scott said.

“Many doctors rely on the advice and the accessibility of the visiting specialists.

“There will also be a loss of economic opportunity for business in the South Burnett, in addition to the loss of jobs already with the recent closure of the Private Hospital.”

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SBcare Board member Doug Henderson said his wife has attended the South Burnett Private Hospital as a private patient on day admission since December 2011 for ongoing medical treatment on a monthly basis, and will continue to do so for the remainder of her life.

“As a day patient, my wife has become quite dependent on the skills of the hospital staff. The treatment takes about four to five hours to administer.” Doug said.

“Prior to this treatment, Lee spent several weeks as an in-patient at the Private Hospital.

“We were at a loss with the closing of the facility as to how we would cope for future treatment, because the drive to Brisbane is time consuming, physically draining and expensive.”

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Dr Debbie Tellam, from Markwell Medical, said she was very disappointed about the closure of the private hospital.

“With all admissions now going to the public hospital, which is at capacity, there are going to be times when there are no hospital beds in Kingaroy and patients will have to be moved out of town,” she said.

“This will mean increased use of ambulance services and inconvenience to all patients.

“It will also cause a drain on the state funded Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme as more people will be needing travel assistance.”

Related articles:

• Mayor Appeals For Public Support
• Council Still Looking For Hospital Operator
• Still A Glimmer Of Hope For Hospital
• Hospital Deadline Looming
• Council In Talks With Qld Health
• Why We Need Our Private Hospital
• Closure Would Be ‘Absolute Disaster’
• Fingers Crossed For Private Hospital
• Mayor Off To Brisbane For Hospital Talks
• Mayor Gutted Over Hospital Closure
• Hospital Discussions ‘Fruitful’
• May Day Call To Save Hospital
• Hospital Renovations Begin Soon
• Glimpse Into A Healthy Future
• Pulse Confirms It Will Run Hospital
• Hospital Talks ‘Progressing Well’
• Pulse ‘Highly Likely’ To Run Hospital
• Pulse ‘Keen To Run Hospital’
• Council To Run Private Hospital
• Talks On Hospital Future

  Council