Brisbane and Gold Coast health professionals heading north

Published Thursday, 30 March, 2017 at 08:00 AM

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Cameron Dick

As the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie continues to impact on hospital and health services in the affected areas, staff from Brisbane and Gold Coast hospitals are heading north to help to ease the burden.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said today’s departure of 30 health professionals from Brisbane and Gold Coast hospitals will boost local capacity to respond and provide much needed relief for local staff.

“Emergency department doctors, emergency nurses, intensive care nurses, midwives, pharmacists, radiographers, mental health professionals, environmental officers and food services staff will all fly north today to lend a hand,” said Mr Dick.

“Their arrival in Mackay later today will ensure we can maintain continuity of services at Mackay by providing much needed respite to local staff who have worked tirelessly both before and during Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

“Natural disasters and severe weather events can sadly cause considerable distress and trauma for those who experience it, so it is also crucial that mental health professionals are available to assist as required.

“I’m very pleased to see five mental health staff from the Gold Coast among those heading north today to join local clinicians in providing these important services. 

“This is more than mate helping mate among the medical fraternity, this is the determined spirit of Queenslanders standing up to help in times of need.”

Mr Dick said he was proud to announce yesterday the willingness of staff from Townsville to roll up their sleeves and help out, and this second wave of help is just as important as the recovery stretches out.

“The team from the Gold Coast, Metro North and Metro South Hospital and Health Services will be in Mackay for five days, and we will of course provide any additional resourcing as needed,” he said.

“There will be no impact on business as usual in the hospitals where these health professionals have been recruited from as absences will be covered by committed staff working to enable others to head north.”

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the deployment of staff will provide substantial relief to local health professionals.

“This is a multi-skilled team who will be on the ground in Mackay and be available to provide specialist and daily services as required,” Dr Young said.

“It is just as important during any recovery that every day and ongoing medical services are also supported, and roles such as midwives and pharmacists provide that sense of continuity expected by the community.

“In addition to their role as medical professionals, they will also be able to assess the need for any further deployment of staff and provide this advice back through to my office.”

Eleven environmental health officers and one public health physician will also head into Mackay today from their respective locations in Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane.

ENDS

Media contact: Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834