tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post5935179287232027092..comments2024-01-20T10:32:53.309+10:00Comments on CairnsBlog.net: Base Hospital - second worse in StateMichael P Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890121680113642715noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-30003665571135151462009-03-20T08:32:00.000+10:002009-03-20T08:32:00.000+10:00Well said Chicken Legs. It was little Johnny Howa...Well said Chicken Legs. It was little Johnny Howard (WHO ??) and his party who cut funding for Hospitals and discouraged young hopefuls to become Doctors by the ruthless slashing of Doctor places at Uni's.<BR/>Remember, it was the Labor party who gave us FREE Hospitals in Q'ld - the envy of other States. Hospital problems are being solved rapidly and don't forget Q'ld has had huge population growth the last few years to contend with. The LNP need to hear the good stories about our Hospitals and not bury their head in the sand once again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-81277146983623459152009-03-20T08:00:00.000+10:002009-03-20T08:00:00.000+10:00Wendy you seem to have forgotten that it was YOUR ...Wendy you seem to have forgotten that it was YOUR federal government that ignored the aged care problem for 11 years, which is why their are so many elderly patients in the hospital (or kero baths) instead of in nursing homes.<BR/><BR/>It was also YOUR federal government that slashed the amount of HECS funded doctor places, which has led to the shortage of doctors, one of the main problems for the health system throughout QLD and Australia.<BR/><BR/>How quick you are to blame the Labor state government while forgetting about how YOUR Howard government slashed and burned the money for aged care and health for 11 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-20156957111720339202009-03-20T07:11:00.000+10:002009-03-20T07:11:00.000+10:00Tom - you are quite right about elderly patients i...Tom - you are quite right about elderly patients inappropriately housed at the hospital as being a major cause of 'bed block'. I had the same experience in 2006 with my own father.<BR/><BR/>There are ways to deal with this right now, while we push for more aged care facilities.<BR/><BR/>For example, there is space in Babinda and Mareeba hospitals for some of these people. These facilities could provide the low care and more homely atmosphere these people need and local workers could be employed for the caring role supervised by nurses.<BR/><BR/>While this may be a little inconvenient for some relatives to visit, others may actually find it better as many aged patients come from outlying areas anyway.<BR/><BR/>We certainly need to think of all the options as we move forward in trying to solve the health crisis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-69327876276877353842009-03-18T14:36:00.000+10:002009-03-18T14:36:00.000+10:00Here's my personal CBH experience: Early last ...Here's my personal CBH experience: Early last year, my dear old Mum (85) had a stroke. It was a debilitating event and it very soon became apparent that she had irreversible damage resulting in her becoming a candidate for a nursing home. However, no nursing home beds were available, and dear old Mum become a "bed blocker" (one of many I was to learn). She occupied an acute bed for FIVE MONTHS - simply for lack of a nursing home bed. <BR/>During this time, the ambulances were regularly ramped outside A&E - and A&E was full because there were no beds on wards to transfer their patients to. Could the solution be as simple as more (federal) funding for nursing home beds, resulting in less (state) funding needed for hospitals? Ideas anyone?T. Asquithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17917098779261025768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-8626299295681573572009-03-18T09:07:00.000+10:002009-03-18T09:07:00.000+10:00We don't attract the same level of specialist as B...We don't attract the same level of specialist as Brisbane, Why? is it because of the hospital? I don't believe so, its simply if you want to live in a city, you live in a city. Come on people we all moved here or chose not to move away because of the lifestyle. The clue is in the name Cairns BASE, its a first stop, you want fancy go to the city. Sure the ALP can pump as much money as they like or build a new one as the LNP are saying they will do. But its not going to change the fact that to city folk we are at the arse end of the world, fancy surgeons don't want to come here. So lets embrace the adventure doctors and specialists that do come here, they fit in better anyway!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878592054777492431.post-44871053363571028522009-03-18T08:41:00.000+10:002009-03-18T08:41:00.000+10:00I think it's important, when criticizing the publi...I think it's important, when criticizing the public health system, to acknowledge what is good about it. I know some people have bad experiences - especially those on long waiting lists. There's doubtless plenty that can and should be done to improve our public health system.<BR/><BR/>Even so, the fact that when someone is criticially ill in this region they can get expert care from dedicated health professionals and walk away without a massive bill is something to celebrate. Thank heavens for it! And thanks to all who make it possible. Let's improve public health by all means - but not throw out the baby with the bathwater.<BR/><BR/>A few years ago the marvellous staff at Cairns Base Hospital saved my life after I'd left a visit to the doctor too long (I'd contracted Leptosporosis). I cannot adequately express my thanks and appreciation for what they did. The staff included some wonderful overseas doctors, including brilliant medics from the Indian sub-continent, who only months later were being protrayed as public enemy number 1 during the disgraceful Hanif affair.<BR/><BR/>Finally, although it's a cliche, someone should point out that we'd have more resources to deploy on healthcare if we spent less on illegal wars in foreign lands fighting popular resistance movements. So, in the absence of much competition on that front, I'll point it out myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com