Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, and Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, have called on the State Labor Government to take swift and decisive action to fix the hospital crisis Central Queensland has been experiencing for years.
This week, it was announced an obstetric locum has been sourced to fill the gaping wound left in lack of maternity services. Unfortunately, this band aid fix isn’t enough for women to deliver their babies in their hometown of Gladstone. Full birthing services won’t return for another six months.
Mothers will still need to trek the 100 kilometres north to Rockhampton, placing more pressure on a hospital heaving under the weight of being overworked.
Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry said our expectant mothers are being let down by Labor’s incompetency again.
“Regional Queensland has bore the brunt of subpar health services for far too long.
“Rockhampton Hospital is experiencing one of the state’s worst ramping levels and numerous days spent under a code yellow. Our nurses were already overworked and under resourced without the extra load of another regional city’s maternity services.
“Women in regional Queensland have every right to the same services as their city counterparts. My question is where have our local state MPs been while this debacle has unfolded right on their doorstep?” Ms Landry said.
Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce said it has been almost 200 days since the Gladstone Hospital maternity unit was put onto bypass.
“Gladstone Hospital serves a regional city of 60,000 and surrounding towns including Biloela. The maternity unit delivers about 600 babies a year and has been on bypass since July 8,” Mr Boyce said.
“On October 13, the Queensland Health Minister, Yvette D’Ath announced planned caesareans were set to resume at the Gladstone Hospital, almost 100 days after the maternity unit went on bypass.
“People are fed up; they have had enough. We need action and we need it now.
“Heads need to roll over this failure and it starts with the Health Minister, Yvette D’ath.”
