Brisbane healthcare under threat from Commonwealth

Brisbane could lose $383 million in health services following a Federal Government decision to refuse funding it owes to Queensland hospitals.

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Steven Miles said $383 million translated into almost 74,000 fewer surgeries and other hospital admissions for sick people in Brisbane.

The $383 million is for Queensland’s two largest hospital and health services – Metropolitan North and Metropolitan South, which provide services as far north as Caboolture and as far south as Logan.

“This is a savage attack on healthcare in Brisbane,” Mr Miles said.

“We’re not talking about arguments over future funding – this is about Canberra paying for services already delivered in the region.”

Mr Miles said the independent health funding umpire had ruled the Commonwealth owes Queensland hundreds of millions of dollars for healthcare provided as far back as 2014.

“Worse, the amount owing is accumulating – meaning Queenslanders are $979 million worse off over four years because of Canberra’s refusal to pay its fair share,” Mr Miles said.

“Come on Prime Minister, most of us manage to pay our bills on time. Four years late is pretty rich. Even for you.

“You wouldn’t contract someone to build you a house, and then refuse to pay the bill once you had moved in to your new home.

“This is the same situation, except we’re talking about healthcare and the lives of thousands of Queenslanders.

“I’m asking for help – from politicians on all sides, from health professionals, from stakeholders – to encourage the Federal Government to meet its commitments.”

Mr Miles said the region’s funding share was equivalent to 244 extra doctors and 848 extra nurses.

“Three-hundred-and-eighty-three million dollars buys a lot of healthcare,” Mr Miles said.

“And it’s things that matter to people, day-in, day-out.”

The $383 million Brisbane component of Canberra’s health bill equals:

• 2707 lens procedures
• 2239 hernia repairs,
• 1729 hip or knee operations,
• A total of 73,923 medical procedures

“The Federal Government’s failure to reimburse hospitals across Brisbane for hundreds of patients already treated is not only unfair, it places future health funding here at risk,” Mr Miles said.

“The Federal Government needs to pay their debt - pay up or continue to put at risk the treatment of hundreds of people in and around Brisbane.”

Mr Miles said Queensland Health has worked hard to ensure no one has been disadvantaged while waiting for Canberra to pay its bills.

“But this is not sustainable,” Mr Miles said.

“If Canberra refuses to pay its fair share our hospitals will be forced to reduce health services they could otherwise deliver.

“Canberra’s cuts will see people in and around Brisbane receiving fewer treatments and waiting longer for it.”

ENDS

Media contact: Katharine Wright 0422 580 342