January 21, 2016
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has challenged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to come out and inspect Kingaroy Hospital, following her announcement on Thursday of a new hospital for Roma.
“I am really happy for the people of Roma and south-west Queensland that they have a brand new hospital, however I would challenge anyone to visit the Kingaroy Hospital to come and tell us that their hospital is in a worse condition than ours is,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We have wonderful nurses and doctors but they are working in really confined spaces.
“There are not enough beds … people are being released in the middle of the night to free up beds for other patients.
“Chemicals and hospital products are stacked up against walls.
“It’s time the Premier realised just how bad the conditions are at the Kingaroy Hospital.”
Mrs Frecklington said Health Minister Cameron Dick had not visited the hospital since taking up the portfolio.
“The Premier has to see for herself why (LNP Health Minister) Lawrence Springborg and the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board had placed Kingaroy Hospital as number one on the list for replacement,” she said.
“If the Premier is prepared to make this announcement for the south-west region, when is she and the Health Minister going to follow the recommendations of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board?”
Mrs Frecklington said there had been dramatic changes at Kingaroy Hospital since the closure of the South Burnett Private Hospital.
“I have heard first hand from the nurses how pressure on the hospital has increased, and there has also been added pressure on Nanango and Wondai Hospitals.
“Nanango is getting packed to the rafters with recovery patients.
“The need for a new hospital is even greater now.”
Mrs Frecklington said Kingaroy Hospital hosted one of the best training facilities for rural doctors in Queensland because of the work of Kingaroy Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr RT Lewandowski.
She said the Griffith University facility at the hospital offered medical students a high standard of training because of the high number of births and emergencies that Kingaroy Hospital handled in sub-standard conditions.
“Cameron Dick and the Premier need to come out and take a look,” Mrs Frecklington.
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