A visit to the Burdekin by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services is a clear sign of improvements in store for health services in the Burdekin according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP.

Mr Last said the Minister being able to hear directly from the Burdekin’s frontline health workers would ensure that upgrades addressed challenges and opportunities identified at a local level rather than local staff being dictated to.

“I often speak about Queenslanders deserving access to world class health services regardless of where they live,” Mr Last said.  “The Crisafulli government is delivering on those services, and we are doing it in cooperation with the people that will deliver those improved services.”

“The installation of a CT Scanner at the Ayr Hospital, for example, not only has the potential to save lives but also means treatment can be started sooner resulting in better outcomes.  But, to maximise the benefits, we need to deliver the right scanner in the right facility and that’s something you don’t achieve by sitting at a desk in Brisbane.”

“If you get those details wrong you end up with equipment that isn’t fully utilised, or you could even make things harder for staff.  We are taking every necessary step to ensure that this multi-million dollar investment provides the best outcomes and that local staff have the best facilities possible to provide the high level of care out community deserves.”

Mr Last said the visit provided the Minister with the opportunity to thank local staff in person and would also shape upgrades at the Home Hill Hospital.

“We have several staff in the Burdekin who regularly go above and beyond and it’s important that those people know their efforts are appreciated,” he said.  “On the other hand, if staff or a patient had concerns, they were able to raise it directly with the Minister.”

“Since it was announced by the former government, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding the upgrades at the Home Hill Hospital and, frankly, the level of consultation with staff was low, if not non-existent.  There’s absolutely no point in talking about upgrades that don’t deliver better services for patients or more support for staff; or even both.”

“The Minister and I are both committed to delivering appropriate health services in Home Hill.  Those services, and the facilities, will be based on local input rather than being a line in a brochure like we saw from the previous government.”

“Queenslanders know that the former government left health services in a mess with promises that weren’t funded and ambulance ramping the worst in the nation.  Personally, I have seen the direct effects of those failures in centres across the electorate and, by engaging with the community, we have addressed those failures.”

“Here in the Burdekin we are delivering improvements rather than fixing problems, but my attitude remains the same.  These are services the community deserves and relies on and I’ll work with the community and our local health staff to ensure those services are to the standard we all deserve.”