Today on the radio, Minister Lawrence Springborg showed the type of insensitivity that he has a long history of, as a member of parliament.
In answers to questions today about the Lady Cilento Queensland Children’s Hospital and problems relating to difficulties for patients, he was dismissive of their concerns.
He was affronted that these very distressed parents of sick children would complain about not being able to get a meal, wash their clothes, easily manage their children around them and it would seem, worst of all, have the “hide” to go public about their concerns.
The Minister says he is running a big Department and he won’t micro-manage those 200 various entities.
He says this, in spite of his decision to compel the new children’s hospital to open and simultaneously close the other children’s facilities.
He refuses to accept any responsibility yet it was his decision to force this opening prematurely. The transition process was flawed.
Parents have every right to complain and the Minister needs to be humble and caring. He needs to apologise for these difficulties.
The parents are not complaining about staff or the standard of care for the children.
In health, we don’t need ministers to blame others for their own mistakes nor condemn those who complain.
Complaints are the currency of good medical care – that’s what drives the process.
Medical people get it. It is the Health Minister who is out of step here. He just doesn’t get it.