The AMA is calling for the Beattie Government to execute their independent audit of the waiting times for surgery, promised to Queenslanders more than one year ago in both the election and the budget.

AMA Queensland President Dr David Molloy said it was unacceptable that Queensland patients were still waiting for the independent audit that was promised by the Premier at the 2003 State Election.

“Doctors and nurses working in our public hospitals continually put forward their concerns,” Dr Molloy said. “Again and again, patients throughout the State also speak of their frustrations with waiting for health care. Both parties continue to be ignored,” he said.

Dr Molloy pointed out that although waiting lists were temporarily cut in March last year after the backlog of long wait procedures were completed in the private sector, the waiting lists have begun to bank up again.

“Minister Nuttall needs to realise the public hospital system has been starved of funds and beds, and new operations can only occur if a greater depth of resources, including new equipment purchases, are made in the system,” Dr Molloy said.

 “Window dressing the politically sensitive statistics on waiting lists will not build better infrastructure and develop a functional health system,” he said.

Dr Molloy said the biggest ‘con’ is not the length of the waiting lists, but the delay in being seen in an outpatient department. Statistics are not collected on this hidden waiting list.

“Patients do not even get onto a ‘official’ waiting list until they have been seen by a specialist - this is the unofficial waiting list that no one hears about,” he said.

Independent research has gathered hard evidence of:

· Insufficient public hospital beds
· Under-resourced accident and emergency and admission arrangements
· Bed and ward closures
· Cuts to operating theatre lists
· Overlong waiting lists, and
· Insufficient medical staff

Dr Molloy said the Beattie Government needed to show Queenslanders their faith in the health system by independently auditing the waiting list statistics.

Ends.

CONTACT:  Stacey Coglan on 3872 2221 or 0400 110 565