The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is at odds with a local MP who has accused it of falling short on a promised increase in new beds at the region’s biggest hospital.
Member for Maroochydore, Fiona Simpson, said there was a shortfall of 74 beds at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) and this was “putting pressure on patients and staff and causing blow-outs in ambulance ramping”.
“This has to be fixed so patients can be seen in time and the beds opened,” Ms Simpson said.
“Queensland Health stated that SCUH would have 738 operational beds by 2021,” she said.
“We are nearly at the end of 2021 and SCUH has only has 664 available beds, making the hospital 74 beds short.
“To boast about commissioned bed capacity is a broken promise. If a bed is not staffed and appropriately funded it is not operational.”
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Ms Simpson said it was little wonder that ramping at SCUH was at 52%, up 19.5% compared to 13 months earlier, and had the fourth-worst ramping levels in the state.
“This a Queensland Health scandal and needs to be addressed immediately.”
However, a Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service spokesperson said SCUH had 738 beds available if needed.
“We are in a fortunate position with Sunshine Coast University Hospital where we have the room to flex up and down according to need.
“Construction of Stage 3 of Sunshine Coast University Hospital was completed at the end of June this year. The facility has a built capacity of 738 beds. Currently, 644 beds are operational and in use,” the spokesperson said.
“There has been significant improvement in Emergency Department wait times at SCUH since the June quarter.
“The health service received $17.5 million in addition to phase 1 of the Care4Qld program to support a new 32-bed general medical ward at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Emergency Department initiatives at SCUH, Nambour General Hospital and Gympie Hospital. HHS data from July to Sept 21 shows a reduction in total minutes of ramping from 89,799 to 41,441.”
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