Regional patients win with returning services

Rural and remote health services are set to be boosted across Queensland, under a new strategy announced by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg.

Mr Springborg said a minimum service model would be developed and implemented in Queensland to ensure regional areas have appropriate health services and that services will be enhanced.

“The previous Labor government ignored rural Queensland, taking basic services away from many communities,” Mr Springborg said.

“This was unacceptable, so we will be creating a minimum standard of care that has to be met and we will be reintroducing those services.

“Small, nurse led facilities in places like Morven, through to larger rural facilities which conduct a range of more specialised services, will be included in the framework.

“This will be the foundation of delivering services and building on community needs.”

Queenslanders and clinicians will have a direct say in the creation of better local health services, from this week, under a new consultation framework.

“The design of the Rural and Remote Framework plan was led by Dr Bruce Chater of Theodore with input from key groups,” he said.

“The community engagement has started because I want to bed this down and get on with ensuring minimum standard models, including staffing, begin sooner rather than later.”

Mr Springborg said the decision 12 months ago to return birthing services to Beaudesert is an example of the type of changes that will take place.

“Beaudesert is on track to introduce birth services by July 2014 and Cooktown and Weipa are in my sights as the next locations to reintroduce services,” he said. 

The Minister said that his commitment to rural Queensland was all about putting patients first.

He said further announcements around the roll out of nurse practitioner generalist models will be made in Cairns this week. 
 
The Rural and Remote Health Service Framework and Planning Process can be accessed from at www.health.qld.gov.au/hsp

[ENDS] 11 June 2013

Media contact: Clare Mildren 0417 255 284