Redland Hospital is grappling with one of its most significant capacity pressures in years, with one in four beds currently occupied by long-stay patients who cannot be discharged due to delays accessing federally funded aged care placements or NDIS supports.
Member for Redlands Rebecca Young MP has backed the Premier’s call for national intervention, warning that the local hospital is feeling the strain of a statewide crisis.
Across Queensland, 1126 long-stay patients remain in hospital despite being medically ready for discharge.
“That’s almost five Redland Hospitals’ worth of people stranded in the wrong place,” Mrs Young said.
At Redland Hospital alone, 60 long-stay patients are occupying beds.
“This is a huge pressure point for our local hospital. When 25% of beds are blocked, the whole system slows down — from ED waiting times, to surgery flow, to ambulance ramping,” Mrs Young said.
Ambulance ramping in the region is currently sitting at about 70 per cent, a figure Mrs Young says is being directly fuelled by a clogged system unable to move patients through.
“The cause is clear, bed block is driving ramping. Until long-stay patients can move into federally funded aged care or NDIS supports, bed flow simply can’t happen.
“Our nurses, doctors and paramedics are doing everything they can — but they cannot move patients into beds that are already full.”
Mrs Young said the Queensland Government was investing heavily to boost capacity and support families, including 150 new mental health beds, a fully staffed Intensive Care Unit, a new MRI and an extended transit lounge with seven short-stay beds.
“These investments are making a difference, but no amount of new infrastructure can overcome a national problem that the Commonwealth continues to ignore,” she said.
“I welcome the Premier’s message today outside Redland Hospital. We are standing up for those stranded Australians. These are real people – many elderly or vulnerable – who are stuck in hospital because the Federal support they need isn’t available.
“I’m also backing this message because Redland families who need access to a bed when they arrive at our hospital, should not be kept waiting.”
Mrs Young said the State Government and frontline workers were doing everything within their remit, but the solution now rested with Canberra.
“The Queensland Government is doing its part, Redland Hospital and the frontline team are doing their part, it’ now time for the Albanese Labor Government to take responsibility for the services it funds to and get these long-stay patients into the care they deserve, and free up hospital beds for our community.”
