South Burnett Health Services
South Burnett Councillors took the opportunity to join with the community in attending the recent health forum
convened by local member, the Honourable Deb Frecklington MP and State Opposition Leader, the Honourable David Crisafulli MP.
“Council has played a proactive role in developing positive solutions to enhance health services across the South Burnett on a number of fronts for some time now,” said Mayor Brett Otto.
Council maintains a close connection with the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) through Chairman Mike Horan and CEO Annette Scott.
“What we do know is that health services across the region are under significant pressure, with the inability to attract qualified staff into the South Burnett a major factor. COVID and the restrictions on entry to overseas doctors have created a real labour supply problem across the board. Add to this the desire by most health professionals to live in cities and coastal locations, and rural areas face a real challenge in filling positions.”
Mayor Otto said that Council has been working actively to improve the liveability of the region through projects such as the Kingaroy Transformation Project (KTP) along with many other CBD and parkland re-developments across the region. In doing so, Council is hoping to see more qualified people from the populated centres choose the South Burnett as a desirable location.
Councillor Danita Potter represents Council on the South Burnett Community Consultative Committee, providing input into local health services. “We understand that the hospital is under great strain due to staffing issues. We have been working on the core issue of attracting medical personnel here. Most choose to go to Brisbane and Toowoomba. We have to get the message out about the advantages of living in the South Burnett,” said Cr Potter.
Councillor Potter and Mayor Otto also represent Council on the Kingaroy Stakeholder Consultative Group in working with the Primary Health Network (PHN), local agencies, local GPs, and senior management of the hospital to work on improvements to health services across a range of areas.
Last year, Councillor Kathy Duff submitted, on behalf of Council and the South Burnett community, an application to the then Coalition federal government for significant funding to address the rising incidence of mental health issues in our region. The request was for on the ground support for our farmers and a Head Space to support the young people across out region.
“Although we were successful in achieving a Head to Health through the hard work of the Kingaroy Hospital Consultative Group, the PHN and other stakeholders, there is still a major shortfall in the services we need,” said Mayor Otto.
“The shortage in rural GPs has been a problem for some years now. This is only increasing the pressure on our hospital system. To date, neither side of politics has taken this issue seriously, with the Medicare rebate being frozen over a decade ago. It’s time that federal politicians stood up and addressed the issue.”
Mayor Otto recently put forward a letter from long-serving local GP, Dr Graham McAllister to the newly elected Australian government, raising the underlying issues and putting forward potential solutions. “I am hopeful the new federal government will step up and address the issue,” Mayor Otto said.
“What we need now is for all sides of politics and all levels of government to work together in implementing positive solutions for better health outcomes in our community.”
