Rural and regional hospitals in Queensland must not be neglected after allegations the Palaszczuk-Gordon Government might move to re-direct rural funding to larger provincial hospitals.
Shadow Minister for Health Mark McArdle said while the larger eastern seaboard hospitals might be faced with more complicated medical issues, regional facilities still provide vital health services and deserve to receive its fair share of funding.
“In my recent trip to Central Queensland, clinicians raised concerns about a centralisation of power and money moving to the larger eastern seaboard hospitals,” Mr McArdle said.
“Any downgrading or reversing of services into rural hospitals is not good enough and will impact on patient care.
“Hospitals are part of the integral fabric of smaller towns and provide essential services.
“Rural and regional hospitals still need the funding, support and power to deliver the vital services local communities need.”
Mr McArdle said he will continue to travel around Queensland listening to clinicians with a particular focus on ensuring access to vital health services, acknowledging the significant distances some patients have to travel.
“We know Queensland is quite a decentralised state however that shouldn’t mean a decentralisation of health services,” he said.
“Rural Queenslanders deserve to have access to the best services they can, as close to at their front door.”
