NO HOSPITALS WILL BE FINED FOR AMBULANCE RAMPING

No hospital will be fined for allowing ramping of ambulances outside busy emergency departments, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

“Premier Peter Beattie and I discussed the matter this morning and we’ve given clear instructions to Queensland Health.

“No hospital will incur any fines or financial penalty.

“However, we do expect all hospitals to improve their performance and delivery of services to patients.”

Mr Robertson said the new funding model adopted by Queensland Health actually offers hospitals financial bonus payments as reward for improved performance.

“Its all about rewarding hospitals for good performance, not penalising them.

“For example, hospitals will be eligible for bonus payments each quarter for reducing the number of “long wait” patients on elective surgery waiting lists.

“Up to $4 million will be made available each quarter to reward hospitals who achieve reductions.

“Hospitals will also be eligible for bonus payments if they better their quarterly activity targets set out in their service level agreement.”

Mr Robertson said ambulance ramping outside emergency departments was a problem faced by many hospitals throughout Australia.

“That’s why the Beattie Government is investing an additional $178 million in 2007-08 to upgrade and improve hospital emergency departments throughout Queensland.”

MEDIA: Paul Lynch 3234 1190