Media Release
Shadow
Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says with a second government nursing home closing
in Brisbane and a third under threat the LNP Government and Health Minister
Lawrence Springborg need to tell the people of Queensland how many more they are
planning to shut down.
Mrs
Miller said we have had distressed elderly people and their families contact us
worried about their nursing home closing, after it was revealed the Eventide
home at Brighton was being cruelly closed by the Newman Government.
"Now
another government nursing home, Ashworth House at Zillmere is being shut with
Cabool at Kippa-Ring under threat,” Mrs Miller said.
“There
are 20 state run nursing homes across Queensland and 10 transition services
whose residents and families will be extremely concerned and distressed
today
"Mr Springborg needs to explain when he or the LNP
government decided to change health policy and abandon government involvement in
nursing home care.
“If
Mr Springborg hides behind the health board for the answer, it means he has
outsourced government policy to 17 boards which also means no Queensland health
service is now safe from being abolished,” she said.
“The
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg is the meanest and trickiest Minister in a
mean and tricky LNP Government.
“There
was no mention of closing nursing homes during Mr Springborg’s Budget estimates
hearing a few days ago.
“Mr
Springborg did not mention throwing the elderly out of their homes and
inflicting untold distress on them and their families.
Mrs
Miller said the LNP Government obviously don’t care about the elderly and others
needing nursing home accommodation.
“They
must know, but don’t care just how difficult and distressing it can be to have
to find suitable nursing home accommodation at any time, let alone when the
government plans to force residents out at short notice,” she said.
“The
cruel LNP Government needs to end the uncertainty for the elderly and their
families across Queensland, and be upfront about how many homes they plan to
shut.
“Mr
Springborg should also front nursing home residents, their relatives and staff
to personally explain the government's actions."
No Guarantees On Nursing
Homes
Shadow Health
Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says the Newman Government is unable to guarantee that
the loss of nursing home beds in Brisbane will not be repeated elsewhere in the
state.
“The Health
Minister, Lawrence Springborg, has outsourced what should be his
responsibilities and decision-making to regional hospital and health service
boards, including decisions to close beds at state government nursing homes in
Brisbane,” Mrs Miller said.
She said Mr
Springborg’s office had stated: “It’s [the board’s] decision to do it or not
to do it or to mess it up.”*
“If the
Minister refuses to set policy or intervene in key decisions such as the closure
of nursing home beds it makes him and local LNP members even more irrelevant,”
Mrs Miller said.
“As long as
boards are making these decisions, then neither Mr Springborg nor any LNP MP can
give a guarantee about the future of other government nursing
homes.
“What is the
Newman Government’s alternative to cutting the number of nursing home beds in
our state? Have they any plans to partner with church or community groups or
provide capital grants or land for new homes?
“At the bare
minimum, that would be a sensible thing to do for any government contemplating
such changes to ensure no net loss of nursing home beds.
“This is yet
another broken promise by the Newman Government.
“Did any LNP
MP distribute brochures during the March election telling voters they wanted to
shut nursing homes?
“LNP local
members in Central Queensland have quickly gained a reputation for standing by
in silence as the Premier and his Ministers engage in mass sackings and savage
cuts to frontline services.
“The closure
of nursing home beds is no different. There has not been one word of protest
uttered by Brisbane LNP MPs about the closure of nursing homes
there.
“It is no
wonder so many people are so badly disappointed in the LNP just six months after
the election,” Mrs Miller said.
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