Cairns healthcare supported to meet increasing demand

Public hospitals in the Cairns region are seeing more patients that ever before, and despite increasing demand 100 per cent of the most urgent Category 1 cases are being treated within recommended timeframes.

In the Cairns HHS, there were 2,560 more ED presentations in February 2021 than the same time last year.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said that demand was increasing across the state for healthcare.

“Our public hospitals are seeing more patients presenting to emergency departments than ever before,” said Minister D’Ath.

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing a record $989.7 million in 2020-21 to strengthen ambulance services in Queensland, and we’re delivering an extra 475 paramedics over the next four years as part of our Government’s plan to hire a record 9,475 additional frontline health workers.

“We’re also investing $1.625 billion in our state-wide health infrastructure program to meet the demands of Queensland’s growing population.

“Additionally, to support the system’s response and its ability to balance these competing demands, an additional $25 million has been prioritised for investment in 2020-21 to open additional bed capacity across the system. The first $15 million has already been allocated to HHSs.

“For the LNP to suggest that patients are in the back of ambulances without treatment shows a lack of understanding, and is an insult to our hard-working paramedics and Queensland Health staff.

“When the LNP were last in power they sacked 4,400 health staff, including 1,800 nurses and midwives.

“In Cairns, the LNP sacked 306 doctors and nurses.

“The consequences would be dire had the Palaszczuk Government not rebuilt our frontline services after the previous LNP government sacked thousands of staff.”

This financial year there has been a significant increase in emergency department presentations, when compared to previous years.

Between 1 July 2020 and 31 January 2021 there were over 1.39 million presentations to Queensland’s emergency departments, an increase of 11.6%.

ENDS

Media contact: Lucy Collier – 0409 461 324