Paper Petition

The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House the constant concerns of residents who use the Gladstone Base Hospital that funding for the hospital has not kept pace with the needs of the region. Hospital wards have been closed and amalgamated ie. there was a medical and a surgical ward now both are combined with only a dividing wall but no tangible infection control; children’s ward has been closed and a very small ward taken adjacent to the labour ward doors. The medical staff are commended for their work under very demanding conditions however there are regular incidents of residents not admitted because of insufficient beds.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to: • Increase the financial allocation to the Gladstone Hospital • Increase staff at the hospital (nurses, doctors and specialists) • Re-open closed wards to ensure adequate bed space.