Doctors Expose Springborg's cuts

Media Release.

Shadow Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says senior doctors working in the public health system have exposed the impact of the Newman Government’s funding cuts and mass sackings.

“Criticisms by members of the state branch of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons about the lack of available intensive care unit (ICU) beds show the Newman Government’s cuts are hitting vital frontline services despite promises to the contrary,” Mrs Miller said.

“The government cannot dismiss these criticisms as coming from the Labor Party, they came from senior medical practitioners working in the public system who see the impact of job cuts and funding cuts."

“Doctors have clearly blamed the Hospital and Health Services for cutting ICU services, and every decision by a HHS is a decision by the Newman Government no matter how hard the Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg, tries to hide behind the regional boards."

“Any deterioration in ICU services is the direct responsibility of Mr Springborg and the Newman Government.”

Mrs Miller said while the government might cite figures showing a rise in beds designated as ICU beds, the key consideration was whether there was sufficient fully trained staff available to operate them as ICU beds.

“The Newman Government appears to have a campaign to downgrade ICU services and standards as part of its plans to make hospitals more attractive for privatisation," she said.

“Just last month in State Parliament I raised the issue of the abolition of the job of the senior social worker supporting burns patients in the ICU at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,” she said.

“The person occupying the position that was scrapped was informed by email."

“Is that any way to treat patients or staff? Why is Mr Springborg cutting ICU services?"

“Now we find that even doctors working in the system have had enough and are now speaking out publicly.”

Mrs Miller said the criticisms by the doctors showed the Newman Government was not telling the truth about the health system in its expensive taxpayer-funded advertising campaigns.

“Mr Springborg churns through taxpayer funds by mounting expensive ad campaigns, but the criticisms by the doctors working for him show those ads are not giving the public the facts,” she said.