Together members have reported to their union and their management that healthcare is in crisis. It is a crisis not caused by Covid-19, but one exacerbated by the pandemic. It is a crisis caused by under-investment and cost cutting that goes back over 10 years. The worst cuts occurred under the Newman government, but their legacy continues to scar Queensland Health. Together members have been speaking out about the Health crisis consistently – in 2021 we campaigned with the QNMU, UWU and the ETU to raise concerns around the staffing and bed crisis. Members put together a clear policy paper on what needed to be done to fix this crisis and throughout the Federal Budget and Federal Election we kept issues of healthcare central – staffing, funding and services. The Queensland Budget 2022 Before the budget, we wrote to the Queensland Government – the Premier, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Health Minister, calling for a workforce plan and accountability for health services as well as investment in new public hospital beds. Together members called on the Queensland Government to act immediately, and when we wrote to the government we called for : A five year plan, with work beginning in the next 3-6 months, to build and invest in significant new beds and hospitals, to be publicly owned and operated, and bring our hospitals up to the acceptable minimum standards of safety for bed numbers and occupancy. A five year plan, with work beginning in the next 3-6 months, to increase the health workforce (a workforce plan/strategy), through recruiting and training more doctors, allied health professionals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and other key health workers and support staff, to manage current demand and staff and operate the additional beds and facilities as they come on line. Clear, transparent and consultative mechanisms for the creation and implementation of these plans. Every Queenslander needs good public health services, and the variances of any particular local Hospital and Health Executive & Board should not impede the implementation of either the new builds, new beds, or workforce planning. Together welcomes the increase in funding for public hospitals in the Queensland Budget 2022. Our members have communicated clearly to the government and the public that there are simply not enough beds in Queensland – particularly publicly owned, publicly run, public hospital beds. It is vital to accompany this important investment with a plan for staff, and a plan for accountability of health services. Alex Scott spoke to the media following the budget to address this: Together members are passionate about delivering health care and good public services. We are continuing to push for a plan for health workers: this crisis is being felt every day by workers on the ground in our hospitals
Last night, on the basis of union members’ campaigning so far, the government indicated that it was prepared to negotiate around its wages policy of 2.5%. On the basis of this movement, public sector unions have agreed to postpone today’s rally outside 1 William Street. For details on the latest wages negotiations, make sure you’re registered to join the Together report-back meeting on Friday – you can register here. Congratulations on putting on the pressure and ensuring movement on wages in 2022!
Health care is an important issue for Queenslanders at this federal election. Together members know health care, because you are health care workers. You know how the health system is functioning right now and you know it needs significant investment from governments so you can continue to provide the valuable care you do for patients. This is why Together members have been talking about health care in key electorates this federal election. Together is calling for commitments from candidates to ensure our health care system has the adequate funding required to allow you to provide the level of care needed. Without doubt, the COVID pandemic has had an impact on health system, but it has only exacerbated the issues that were already present. Just one of those issue are people struggling to see a GP, whether because of availability or cost. It means Queenslanders are putting off health treatment until they can't avoid it. Queenslanders should receive the health care they need, regardless of where they live or how much money they earn. Scott Morrison's record on health is undeniably poor. He won't commit to properly funding public hospitals, or raising the Medicare rebate so more patients can access bulk billed GPs. He has let down aged care residents and NDIS recipients are struggling with the poor support from his government. Together members are out in the community putting these issues front and centre when they talk to Queenslanders. We deserve a top class health care system that ensures ALL Queenslanders can get the care they need when they need it. When you go to vote this election - think about public hospitals and your community and who will best support our health care system.
Last week Together members in Cairns and Hervey Bay, joined by their fellow health workers, spoke out about the need for urgent additional investment in our Health system here in Queensland. The message is clear - Health needs urgent care. This is not just about the pandemic, it’s about the increased needs of our community - across acute health care, community and preventive care, mental health care and more. Political leaders are responding to this call in different ways. Premier Palaszczuk has called on the federal government to improve funding for health services - to lift the contributions to deal with the increased need. The Premier said on the weekend hospitals need to have the capacity and that requires additional funding coming from the federal government to support the growth in numbers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called this shakedown politics and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has said I don’t know how many ventilators there are… it's the states' job to run hospitals. What do you think? Health members have called on both levels of government to address the need. I think the Premier is right to make this call for additional funding. Given the health system has to be funded by the federal government who collect our taxes - and given the devastating under funding of aged care and disability support - shouldn’t the federal government step up? We think it’s time. Every state health minister has written to Federal Minister Greg Hunt asking for a review of hospital funding. Do you support the Premier's call for an increase in funding to Queensland’s hospital system from the federal government? Together members in Queensland Health provide world class services every day but there urgently needs to be more resources put in to our system to cope with demand. As one of our delegates recently put it “we cannot slice the pie any differently, there needs to be more pie” - there are more patients, who are sicker, needing urgent care. And together we believe every Queenslander has a right to access health care wherever we live in our great state.
