EX-MINISTER EXPOSES SPRINGBORG’S SEXUAL HEALTH STRATEGY

Media Release.

Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Newman Government must heed the advice of former conservative cabinet minister Beryce Nelson and stop cuts to sexual health services delivered through Biala in the Brisbane CBD.

“I welcome the decision to retain HIV/AIDS services at Biala, but the much higher-volume services for sexual transmitted diseases are still facing the LNP’s axe,” Mrs Miller said.

“Decisions by regional health boards are decisions by the LNP government, so the Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg, needs to start earning his $6,000-a-week pay packet and take responsibility for these cuts and reverse them.

“Beryce Nelson has correctly identified this decision as part of the ‘pattern of decision-making’ by the LNP.

“The LNP’s approach is a purely political one designed to shift costs and responsibility from the LNP government to the federal government.

“By closing state-provided services and telling patients to used GPs instead, the mean and tricky LNP government knows the costs will be picked up through Medicare by the federal government.

“The cuts to these specialised services will have major implications for public health and Mr Springborg should make sure they are reversed just as he reversed his government’s decision last year to close the TB clinic at princess Alexandra Hospital.

“The AMA has today said GPs are not equipped to deal with the complex physical and mental health needs of the 13,000 patients who each year use Biala services.

“The AMA’s Dr Alex Markwell has also said it is not possible for public hospitals to pick up the slack if patients cannot afford to access GPs.

“Beryce Nelson also correctly identified the possible outcomes from the LNP’s short-sighted and blatantly political approach — an increase in STDs and in turn more hospital visits, more treatments, and ultimately more costs to taxpayers.

“It is time Lawrence Springborg stopped hiding behind the Metropolitan North Hospital and Health Service board and reversed the cuts to services delivered through the Biala centre.”