Coast’s new health crisis
University Hospital goes close to ‘breaking point’
THE Gold Coast University Hospital is at “breaking point” as the emergency department continues to haemorrhage with an overload of patients.
The State Opposition is urging the Government to provide relief by fast-tracking plans in this month’s budget for a new medical precinct in the Coast’s fast-growing north.
Queensland Health Emergency data shows that in April at least 60 per cent of ED patients were not seen on time.
This is almost three times the state average of 23 per cent. Robina Hospital was also higher, at 37 per cent.
At Gold Coast University Hospital only 56 per cent of patients were off stretcher within 30 minutes. The data for Robina was slightly better, at 67 per cent.
Of the 8949 patients who attended Gold Coast University Hospital ED, 657 did not wait for care.
Opposition health spokesperson and Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates said despite a statewide reduction in ED waiting times, the university hospital went the other way and was the worst in Queensland.
“It’s clear Labor has no plan to ensure that Gold Coast residents have the health services they need. This is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state and local infrastructure needs to keep pace,” Ms Bates said.
“The Gold Coast University Hospital is at breaking point. As a nurse, my heart goes out to the thousands of local nurses, doctors, midwives and paramedics who are struggling to cope with increased demand.”
Ms Bates again took aim at the performance of Health Minister Dr Steven Miles saying the only response from the “embattled” MP was to warn patients not to visit congested EDs when they could go to a local GP.
“One option is funding for a new co-located health hub with its own X-ray and pathology units that bulk-bills patients through Medicare to triage category 3, 4 and 5 patients.
“The priority should always be about patient care, but sadly that is severely lacking under Labor.”
In return fire, Dr Miles said: “Gold Coast hospitals saved a record number of lives in April, despite experiencing increased demand.
“Importantly, 99 per cent of category 1 patients, the most urgent, were seen immediately when arriving at an ED.
“I welcome Ros Bates’ call for an urgent care clinic on the Gold Coast, and look forward to her lobbying the Federal Government for this facility.”
In 2017, former MP and GP Dr Alex Douglas predicted the Coast would need a new hospital by 2021 at the latest, urging the Government to investigate Coomera and building “a major birthing unit”.
Coomera MP Michael Crandon later launched a petition for a hospital to be built on a 13.5ha site near the train station, and the Government began investigating options.
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