What happens to patients like me?- concerned and scared patient of the Queensland Health System speaks out.
Dear Mr Premier and Honourable Ministers,
I am writing this letter as a concerned and scared patient of the Queensland Health System.
In my early teen years, I was diagnosed with a life threatening, rare immune disorder and for the past 10 years, I have required lifesaving treatment from the medical specialists at Queensland hospitals, including the Princess Alexander and Prince Charles Hospitals.
My family and I have relied on the expertise, care and skill of the specialists across these hospitals, not only for support, care, but have continued to entrust them with saving my life.
They, like many other specialists, have worked over time, looking after me, have put their own family and personal lives aside, to protect me, have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure I am safe and healthy and for that I am so very thankful.
I am writing this letter today, scared and angry that the Neman Government that was elected by the people, to protect the people, to honour basic human rights, to uphold the rule of law and to serve the people of Queensland, is now deciding to embark and adopting quite simply barbaric and dictatorship behaviour.
I am hard working Queenslander, who has contributed and continued to contribute to the growth of this economy since the age of 15.
Respectfully, Mr Premier, and Honourable Ministers, I would like the answers to the following questions and further, requesting an understanding as to how the Ministers elected by the people, and with the election promise of securing a better Queensland, is now using their power to bully, abuse and deny Queenslanders, the basic human rights including safety, health care and a just and fair health system.
Firstly, Mr Premier and Mr Springboarg have said that the Contracts are âNegotiated Individual Contractsâ. How are these contracts ânegotiatedâ when the contracts where not negotiated and breach the basic common law contract rules, including certainty, consideration and fair terms?
Why do the contracts allow for the Government to change the contract terms, including pay, hours and working conditions including moving specialists to any location âfor which they are qualifiedâ.
The dismissal clauses allow for the individual to be dismissed without further recourse and no access to the QIRC.
Does this mean that my Specialists, may on Tuesday be working at Prince Charles, on Wednesday be shipped to Dalby and by Thursday advised to work another 15 hour shift with no support staff, on Friday advised his/her pay has been reduced and on Saturday be dismissed for expressing concern about working conditions.
What happens on Sunday, when I come in an need lifesaving treatment? My specialist is not there, and any staff that is there are most likely over-worked, tired and ill trained.
Mr Premier, these specialist, like you are somebodies fathers, mothers, husbands and siblings, they have families as well. Why are you destroying their lives while simultaneously signing my death certificate?
Mr Premier, how are these terms fair?
How are these terms and conditions legal?
How do these terms at all benefit the specialist and more so, how on earth will these terms benefit patient care and save lives?
Why is the Newman Government the only government in Australia to adopt these contracts?
Mr Premier, why was new Queensland Health Legislation Reforms, removing the rights to access QIRC and further, in the event of any dispute, finding in favour of the Government â why were these reforms passed very quietly, and with no consultations from industry groups.
How are these reforms fair and just?
Health reform was a major pre-election promise â You have now created a âReformedâ health system filled with uncertainty, fear, unjust and unfair working conditions and fundamentally, you have reformed the system to allow for reduced and inadequate patient care.
I have read across various news mediums that Mr Springborg has disgracefully accused the specialists of being greedy.
Mr Newman, with respect, how can you allow your Government to make a statement such as that when you know the new contracts, you have provided the doctors with an increase in pay, and an attempt to âBlackmailâ and entice them to accept these inhuman, barbaric contracts. How can these specialists be greedy when they are rejecting these contracts and pay increases because under your contracts, and working conditions, they will not be able to provide the care and skill and look after their patients?
Mr Premier, Ministers, what happens when the Specialists resign?
What happens to the patients? Do we then welcome foreign and ill trained doctors and have another Jayant Patel/Bundaberg?
What if the Specialists accept your conditions and our patient care is reduced because my specialist can no longer provide me with the degree of care I need. What happens when patients such as me start to die?
Mr Quirk, respectfully you have for years, praised yourself on being a family man and through my school years, I attended the same school as your daughter and watched the pride you showed in your daughter. As a father, as a human, how would you and your wife feel if it was your daughterâs care and life was being compromised?
Would you want your daugtherâs specialist signing the contract. Of course, you most likely have private health care, however some of us, every day Queenslanders, who are not on your pay salaries, cannot afford such luxuries.
Mr Premiers and Ministers, respectfully, these questions are not rhetorical and I will continue to send this letter to every new medium both locally and nationally until we receive the answers. Our lives depend on it. Without these specialists, I could die.
Mr Premier, as you sit at your office desk, I ask you to carefully think of the impacts of your apparent âreforms to the systemsâ and how your decisions will not only make not only on my life, but so many other Queenslanders, who entrusted you with their vote, their voice and their lives.
Yours Sincerely
Name Ommited
Queensland Patient
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