Miles Labor Government released its Better Healthcare, Closer to Home health plan.
Plan focuses on three priority areas - keeping Queenslanders out of hospital, new ways of delivering care, and getting you seen sooner.
Backed by new commitments to deliver more primary health services, new Satellite Hospitals, and even more healthcare workers for the frontline.
Premier Steven Miles has today revealed his government’s Better Healthcare, Closer to Home health plan – a plan to do what matters for Queensland to deliver world class public healthcare closer to home. That plan includes hiring more doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, ambulance officers and the support staff needed to work in our new and expanding health and hospital hubs.
Centered around three priority areas, the Better Healthcare, Closer to Home plan is targeted the major pressure points in a person’s care journey.
Only the Miles Labor Government is doing what matters to keep Queenslanders out of hospital, deliver new ways care and get you seen sooner.
Only Labor will deliver 15,875 frontline health workers over the next four years alone – accelerating the hiring of thousands more frontline workers.
Only Labor will deliver seven new Satellite Hospitals in Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, the Fraser Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Beenleigh and Yarrabilba.
Only Labor will establish 50 GP clinics across the state in areas of need, attracting even more GPs to the state.
Only Labor will deliver Stage 2 of the Redland Hospital expansion to deliver 181 more beds for the region.
Only Labor will expand the Mareeba Emergency Department and upgrade the Townsville University Hospital Car Park.
Only Labor will deliver a brand-new ambulance station for the Upper Ross community. Only Labor will boost antenatal care by $20 million to ensure expectant mums have access to world class antenatal care including ultrasound scans no matter where they live in Queensland.
Only Labor will improve access to abortion services and supports.
Only Labor will make access to over-the counter treatment and medication easier by making Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot and Community Pharmacy Hormonal Contraception Pilot permanent.
Better Healthcare, Closer to Home highlights the Miles Government’s commitment to:
Build capacity in Queensland’s hospitals by delivering three new hospitals, another seven satellite hospitals and $1 billion to build, restore or enhance rural regional and remote health service.
Hire 46,450 more health staff by 2032, including 18,781 extra nurses and midwives and 5,896 extra doctors.
Deliver more than 3,500 extra hospital beds.
Invest $1.9 billion into mental health services.
Invest more than $1 billion in women and girls’ healthcare.
When last in government, the LNP cut $1.6 billion from the Queensland Health budget and sacked 4,400 health workers. That included 1,800 nurses and midwives.
The LNP have now planned to cut 1,200 hospital beds from the state’s Health Big Build pipeline and cut about 12,000 health staff between now and 2032.
The LNP have a track record of cuts and Queenslanders cannot risk those cuts again.
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
“I have a plan to take pressure of our busy health system, and we’re firmly focused on delivering.
“More doctors, more nurses and more healthcare staff is my guarantee to Queenslanders, if elected.
“My first budget as Premier delivered an over 10 per cent uplift to the Health budget, and there is even more to come.”
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:
“We’re focussed on delivering more beds, more services and more hospital expansions right across the state, especially in regional Queensland.
“The latest data shows that our investments are working at helping improve hospital performance, but we know there’s more to do.
“Our $1.1 billion Putting Patients First plan is delivering more beds, healthcare workers and solutions like our nation-leading Satellite Hospitals program and expanded Transit Lounges to improve patient flow in EDs.
“Only a Miles Labor Government will prioritise a woman’s right to make decisions about their own bodies, which is why we’re also investing $41 million to improve access to abortion services and supports.
“We’ve been transparent about costs, and we’ve committed to building 3,587 beds, but the LNP want to reduce that by about a third – the equivalent of the entire Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
“They’ve said they want to “break the back” of health worker entitlements and they’ve released a plan that shows their plans for cuts to the workforce, cuts to beds, and cuts to entitlements."
ENDS View the Better Healthcare, Closer to Home health plan here.