MP Mark Bailey was lucky he got his flat tyre near the Archer River Roadhouse where manager Glen (left) sorted it out. Photo: Instagram.
Opposition Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services spokesperson Mark Bailey’s claims he had been blocked from visiting facilities on the Cape have been rejected by the health service.
Mr Bailey has been on the Cape talking to staff and local leaders to better understand challenges facing the state’s health system and to formulate policy.
He visited Weipa, Bamaga, Injinoo, Thursday Island, Aurukun and Lockhart River but a flat tyre stopped him getting down to Coen.
However, he claimed part of his itinerary was blocked by the State Government.
Mr Bailey said he had received a written response to his request to visit Queensland Health facilities and was denied permission “blocking my access to meet and listen to local staff about State Government health services in the Cape”.
“This is very disappointing behaviour from a secretive government not interested in positive health outcomes or working with others for better health outcomes,” he said.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) acting chief executive Michael Catt refuted the claim.
“State Opposition Health spokesperson Mark Bailey was not denied entry to any Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service facility,” Mr Catt said.
“Mr Bailey did arrive at Bamaga Hospital unannounced but was provided with a tour of the facility. Mr Bailey also visited and was provided with a tour of the Lockhart River Primary Health Care Centre.”
Mr Bailey said he met with Bamaga deputy mayor Mary Yoelu, her CEO Dalassa Yorkston, and councillors Kitty Gebadi and Bradford Elu, as well as Weipa Town Authority chair Jaime Gane and Cr Tacita de Tournouer.
He also met with Torres Shire Council mayor Elsie Seriat and her outgoing and incoming CEOs, David Paulmert from the Thursday Island Pharmacy and staff at the Injinoo Health Care Centre including former mayor Patricia Yusia.
In Aurukun, Mr Bailey spoke with mayor Barbara Bandicootcha, as well as a small business operator, Aurukun Apunipima Centre representatives and spokespeople from the Aurukun Wellbeing Centre.
He said a number of issues were identified.
“I’ve been informed the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme [PTSS] has been changed by the Crisafulli Government to reduce local decision making on patients needing to travel to Cairns for treatment … (It has moved) away from local decision making to centralised decision making in Cairns which has reduced local input and context,” Mr Bailey said.
“This is resulting in fewer people being supported to travel to Cairns for health care because more people are denied access. The matter has been raised with Health Minister [Tim] Nicholls and local concerns have been dismissed.”
Mr Bailey said the accommodation provisions for Cape York patients getting treatment in Cairns had also changed.
“It no longer allows patients to choose their own accommodation and pay the difference between the cost and the subsidy,” he said.
“Patients would do this because some allocated accommodations were unsuitable for perhaps disability access, not close to hospital, not safe or other reasons. Remembering these people are ill so if there are stairs and they are unable to use them, then they cannot stay there.
“This has reduced access to healthcare by reducing access to PTSS for Cape York patients. Health Minister Tim Nicholls and the state Member for Cook David Kempton have serious questions to answer on why this has been done.”
Responding to Mr Bailey’s concerns, Mr Catt said the centralised Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme process aimed to provide “a fairer and more consistent decision-making process to all our consumers while applying public funds responsibly and in line with our obligations as a publicly funded health service”.
“All Cairns accommodation providers are offered to join the PTSS program for the Torres and Cape HHS,” he said. “However, each vendor can name their own price and choose not to enter the program.
“Our consumers have always been offered and are continued to be offered the choice to have their accommodation booked within a ‘no-gap’ accommodation provider or book and fund their own accommodation and seek the nominated PTSS rebate subsequently.”
He said almost $21.4 million was spent through the PTSS on Cape York, Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area patient and carer travel and accommodation in 2024, compared to $18.6 million in 2023.
