Premier assures state’s health crisis ‘absolutely the focus’ in ‘record’ budget

The Premier has vowed Queensland’s ambulance ramping crisis will be a major focus in the state budget to be released next month.
Queensland Ambulance Service data has revealed more than 40 per cent of patients were ramped at hospitals for longer than 30 minutes during the March quarter.
The numbers were significantly worse in the south-east, with some hospitals seeing two in three ambulances forced to ramp for longer than the recommended time.
Annastacia Palaszczuk told a press conference this morning while health pressures are widespread across the country, Queensland will commit better funding in the upcoming budget.
“The first quarter was the likes of which we’ve never seen in our state,” she said. “We’re looking at these issues in great detail.
“Next month’s budget is going to be a record budget.
“I want to assure Queenslanders that I am giving this absolutely the focus of my attention, as is my Health Minister and other members of the Cabinet Budget Review Committee.”
But the Premier wouldn’t be drawn into revealing a ballpark figure for the spend.
“Well, just wait – it’s next month, you don’t have long to wait.”
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Image: Annastacia Palaszczuk / Twitter