April 5, 2023
The LNP State Opposition has produced figures that show the number of beds at three South Burnett hospitals have been slashed, including 28 fewer at the new Kingaroy Hospital.
However, Darling Downs Health says the statistics quoted actually reflect differences in definitions and natural fluctuations in bed occupancy rates over time.
In a joint media statement on Wednesday, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said an analysis of health statistics had shown cuts to hospital beds at 29 Queensland hospitals.
The figures compared the number of beds available on September 29, 2021, with the number available on December 31, 2022.
In the South Burnett, the statistics showed Kingaroy Hospital had dropped from 73 to 45 (down 28), Cherbourg Hospital 17 to 12 (down 5) and Murgon Hospital 15 to 10 (down 5).
The first figures were extracted from answers supplied by Health Minister Yvonne D’Ath in October 2021 to a Question on Notice from Mr Crisafulli.
The Opposition Leader had sought the current number of available beds at individual hospitals and each facility’s commissioned capacity.
The reply listed the number of available bed and “bed alternatives”, and temporarily unavailable bed and “bed alternatives”, at each hospital. In the South Burnett, these were: Cherbourg 17/0; Kingaroy 73/0; Murgon 15/0; and Nanango 10/0.
The second figures in the LNP media statement were taken from Hospital Performance data published on the Queensland Health website
southburnett.com.au approached Darling Downs Health in regards to the apparent alarming drop in bed numbers at Kingaroy Hospital.
We were told that at the end of 2021 the organisation had reviewed and updated its bed availability data to ensure the definitions of “beds” and “bed alternatives” were consistently applied across all its facilities.
This review had resulted in data being updated, not a physical reduction in what was defined as a bed or “bed alternative”.
A spokesperson said Kingaroy Hospital had the capacity for 66 physical beds or “bed alternatives”, which is more than the old hospital which had 46 physical beds or “bed alternatives”.
“Bed numbers are a point-in-time measurement, and can fluctuate according to a number of factors including service demand,” the spokesperson said.
The figure of 45 quoted by the LNP referred to bed numbers at Kingaroy Hospital on December 31, 2022 (noting bed numbers are typically low in December due to Christmas).
“The state-of-the-art Kingaroy Hospital is an incredible facility for the South Burnett community and we are incredibly proud of our staff and the quality of care they provide to their community,” the spokesperson said.
“This new hospital has enabled an increase in renal services to be provided to the local community.
“More patients can access renal services at Kingaroy Hospital than ever before.
“Additionally, we are currently evaluating the expansion of our teleoncology services at Kingaroy Hospital which will mean more patients can stay closer to home whilst undergoing cancer treatment.”
southburnett.com.au understands that Kingaroy Hospital was originally commissioned to have 66 beds / bed alternatives plus 27 “treatment spaces”.
