Queensland Independent member for Cook Billy Gordon says the slow pace of adopting Aboriginal community controlled health services in Cape York is a ‘black mark’ on the Queensland government.
The state of healthcare in the region has come under fire recently, as Indigenous groups in the area call for a restructure of health services amid evidence that under staffing and poor support services have led to an increase in preventable illness and death.
Health services on Cape York are split between three services – Queensland Health, Apunipima Cape York Health Council and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Health workers have complained of a chaotic system and poor sharing of medical files between the services.
Minister Gordon says the Beattie government recognised the need to transition to community controlled health services as far back as 2006, but change has been held back by bureaucracy.
However, Minister Gordon says progress in recent months has been better and he is due to meet with state Health Minister Cameron Dick and key stakeholders on Thursday to commit working together to achieve community controlled health.
