Funding boost for Queensland spinal unit after concerns over patient care
Queensland’s only dedicated spinal unit will stay put and receive a funding boost following concerns about patient care and a lack of resources.
The Palaszczuk government is promising $20 million towards āimmediateā improvements to the unit at Brisbaneās Princess Alexandra Hospital, including more bathrooms, toilets and therapy spaces, and changes to food service.
Extra nurses and allied health staff have also been employed to ensure spinal unit patients receive ātimely and quality careā.
The upgrades would provide better care while a new facility was built, the government said, with $5 million already put towards planning a āstate of the artā building.
The boost means the troubled unit will not be moved from the Metro South health district to a surgical and rehabilitation building in Metro North, which had been flagged as a possibility.
Thursdayās announcement came after former health minister Yvette DāAth ordered a review in April following claims from former patients at the spinal unit.
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Along with allegations of poor care, emergency doctor and former Queenslander of the year Dinesh Palipana called for change in a letter to Ms DāAth.
He described patients facing delays for beds and staff struggling with a lack of resources.
The former health minister in April ordered an evaluation of Metro North and Metro South and their clinical models.
New Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the $20 million in upgrades would provide safer and more dignified care as well as āvastly improved patient privacyā.
āI know this process has been challenging for many people, particularly the unitās patients and staff, and I appreciate their feedback, patience and resilience,ā she said in a statement.
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