MORE than 2,650 extra frontline doctors, nurses and health practitioners will be employed across Queensland under a re-elected Newman LNP Government’s strong plan for health.
Premier Campbell Newman said the LNP would provide a massive boost to frontline health services, ensuring Queensland patients receive the high quality medical care they need and deserve.
“We all want a healthier Queensland and we’ve been working hard over the past three years to reduce every single waiting list,” Mr Newman said.
“We had to make tough decisions early in our term to fix up the financial mess Labor left behind but because of our strong and careful economic management, the LNP Government can now create an estimated 2,654 additional frontline health jobs across Queensland over the next three years.
“That’s 490 additional doctors, 1,700 additional nurses and 464 additional health practitioner positions.”
The additional 2,654 staff will cost $583.4 million over three years from 2015/16.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said while the Newman LNP Government had turned Queensland Health around over the past three years, there was still much more to be done.
“Under Labor, Queensland Health was plagued with waste and ballooning bureaucracy that prevented the recruitment of frontline health workers,” he said.
“There were thousands of patients languishing on waiting-lists and hidden waiting-lists, and the billion dollar health payroll debacle left doctors and nurses underpaid, overpaid or not paid at all.
“By contrast the LNP’s strong plan for health has seen our two-year dental waiting list cut to zero, and our Wait Time Guarantee will ensure all elective surgery patients receive their surgery on time, every time.
“We’re investing more in Queensland Health than ever before -with a budget of $13.1 billion compared to $11.05 billion under the previous Labor Government.
“We’ve stabilised the Queensland Health payroll, our doctors and nurses are getting their proper pay and we’ve overseen across the board pay increases for all our health workers.
“Despite these great achievements, we know there is more to be done. Only the strong and stable LNP team has a strong plan to revitalise frontline services and take Queensland Health into the future.
“And only the LNP team has the strong economic plan to ensure we can pay for it.”
Source: The Chronicle