EASIER ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES PLAN
The LNP will secure a pipeline of health workers for regional Queensland and pave a pathway from student to clinician, through a new dedicated Health Sciences school in Rockhampton.
In a $95 million commitment announced today from Rockhampton, the LNP will build the state’s first regionally based Queensland Academy Campus, to help high-achieving local students follow their dreams of becoming doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals where they live.
The major commitment is part of the LNP’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan, will restore health services when Queenslanders need them, and secure frontline health workers for the decades ahead.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP’s commitment for a Queensland Academy in Rockhampton would provide more education opportunities in Central Queensland and fast-track students into a career in health.
“The LNP’s commitment to deliver a Queensland Academy for Health Sciences in Rockhampton will deliver the students of tomorrow the best headstart into a health career,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Students will be connected with professionals in the health sciences, research, science and academic industries, providing a pathway from high school to university and into frontline health work.
“Our commitment will help secure a pipeline of health workers for our hospitals into the future, right here in Central Queensland.”
Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said Rockhampton had been ground zero for Labor’s Health Crisis, which is why it was the right place for a dedicated health science Academy.
“In Central Queensland, the number of elective surgeries being performed at the Rockhampton Hospital has halved, and there are now fewer surgeries happening at the Rockhampton Hospital than at any other time,” Ms Bates said.
“Our health system is flatlining after a decade of underinvestment and under resourcing, is it any wonder our health workers have been leaving in droves.
“Under Labor, maternity services across regional Queensland have closed or bypassed, which has been compounded by staff shortages in regional Queensland.
“The impact is Central Queenslanders are forced to travel away from home to get the care they need, but the LNP will secure a home-grown health workforce for regional Queensland’s future.”
LNP Candidate for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the LNP’s commitment would provide a pathway for students to remain in Central Queensland, instead of travelling to South East Queensland to start their health careers.
“The LNP’s plan will secure more frontline health workers to staff our thriving regional communities in the future, whether in midwifery, nursing, general practice, surgical specialities or paramedics,” Mr Hutton said.
“We will stop the domino effect, starting right at the beginning with Rockhampton’s Queensland Academy for Health Sciences to keep the next generation of medical professionals where they are so desperately needed.”
LNP Candidate for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the Queensland Academy would work closely with CQUniversity, which already offered bachelor’s degrees in Health Science and Nursing.
“The LNP’s health academy will work hand in hand with CQUniversity’s health courses and allow students the chance to start building their career in health throughout high school,” Mrs Kirkland said.
“There’s no better way to deliver more hardworking, dedicated health workers than to give young people the chance to experience health careers for themselves, via this dedicated Academy.”
LNP Candidate for Mirani Glen Kelly said the LNP’s plan for Queensland would heal Labor’s Health Crisis by diagnosing the issues from within the health system, treating the causes and delivering long-term solutions to care.
“The LNP will restore health services where you need them, because Queenslanders should have access to world-class healthcare, no matter where they live,” Mr Kelly said.
“Labor’s Health Crisis won’t end unless we change the government next month.
“Central Queensland deserves a fresh start and the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future.”