Twenty hospital beds for forty-three thousand people in Lockyer

IN RESPONSE to the announcement of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) coming to Ipswich and Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan called on the state and federal government to fund a new regional hospital.

Cr Milligan welcomed the Australian and Queensland Governments’ plan to expand the UCCs, but added Lockyer Valley desperately required a new regional hospital to cater to its growing needs.

“As it currently stands, approximately 20 available hospital beds for a population of 43,000 and counting is unacceptable,” Cr Milligan said.

“Anything less than a new regional hospital is a band-aid solution, and council continues to advocate strongly for this crucial infrastructure that would prevent residents from being forced to travel outside the region to access basic public health services.”

The UCCs intend to offer alternative care for non-life-threatening conditions to relieve stress off emergency departments.

“The bulk-billed clinics… will provide more health options for our residents, albeit in excess of a 30-minute drive away for many and with very limited public transport available,” Cr Milligan said.

JACOB HAYDEN

0455 099 311 jade.somerville@cba.com.au