Members, we here at the SDC hope that all of you are feeling well and in good health. However, if any of you are experiencing any health concerns, we urge you to take immediate action and get yourselves checked out at the hospital or your local GP.

This is especially important if you have recently undergone scans or tests and are still awaiting the results.

However, there is currently a significant issue in Queensland that we believe deserves attention: there is a substantial backlog of radiology scans.

This backlog is affecting a considerable portion of the state, including the Gold Coast University Hospital, which operates one of Queensland's busiest emergency departments.

Almost 55,000 radiology scans remain unchecked at one of the state's busiest hospitals. Credit: Shutterstock.

The situation is concerning because it means that thousands of Queenslanders might have serious health conditions, such as cancer, without even knowing it.

Reports confirmed the hospital has around 55,000 radiology scans that remain unchecked, and this backlog has been building up over the past 18 months. According to Queensland Health, it might take up to two to three months to clear.

Ron Calvert, Chief Executive of Gold Coast Health, said at a press conference on Thursday that staff shortages are partly to blame for the delay, although an increase in the demand for medical imaging across the state has also had an impact.

The issue is tripled by a change to the National Health Reform Agreement, which has caused 'six-figure' pay cuts for radiologists employed in public hospitals and thus encouraged them to seek employment in the private sector.

Gold Coast University Hospital is currently operating with five fewer radiologists than it needs, and a number of tents have had to be set up at the hospital to help with the overflow of patients.

Maria Boulton, President of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, added that a 'global shortage of healthcare professionals' is also causing a problem: 'When you look at a busy radiology department in a busy hospital, that will include nurses, radiographers, radiologists.'

Several whistleblowers told Courier Mail that they are worried about the undiagnosed scans that could potentially lead to legal action.

'There is the constant worry about how many tumours or serious issues are being missed or delayed,' one staff member said.

Dr Boulton believes that, generally, people working in the hospital are trying to do the best they can, but if the hospital is 'under-resourced, underfunded and understaffed', it's very hard to keep up when working in a busy environment.

To speed up the scanning process and address the backlog, the health service has outsourced the task to the private sector. Health Minister Shannon Fentiman expressed her determination to resolve the issue, calling the backlog 'unacceptable'.

As of now, there seems to be no other states facing a similar problem.

To alleviate the strain on medical staff, Queensland Health has implemented several initiatives.

They are conducting a recruitment drive aimed at attracting specialists from other states and overseas. They are also offering financial incentives to entice specialists to relocate and work in Queensland.

'We strongly support any measures that will reduce the barriers for international clinicians to relocate to Australia,' they said.

Key Takeaways

• Almost 55,000 radiology scans remain unchecked at Gold Coast University Hospital, one of Queensland's busiest hospitals, potentially leaving patients with undiagnosed serious health conditions.
• The backlog of medical imaging scans, which has built up over about 18 months, is due to staff shortages and increased demand for medical imaging across the state.
• A pay cut for radiologists in public hospitals has seen many move to the private sector.
• In order to address the backlog, the hospital was said to be prioritising the most important scans and offloading some to the private sector. Queensland Health is also implementing initiatives to attract more medical staff.

Members, if you've recently undergone medical imaging scans in Queensland and are currently waiting for the results, we advise you to get in touch with your hospital to find out if your scans are included in the delay.

We would like to hear your thoughts on this news. Has this situation affected you or someone you know? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

 

[Leenie]

Where have all the health workers gone.?

 

[Ricki]

Members, we here at the SDC hope that all of you are feeling well and in good health. However, if any of you are experiencing any health concerns, we urge you to take immediate action and get yourselves checked out at the hospital or your local GP.

This is especially important if you have recently undergone scans or tests and are still awaiting the results.

However, there is currently a significant issue in Queensland that we believe deserves attention: there is a substantial backlog of radiology scans.

This backlog is affecting a considerable portion of the state, including the Gold Coast University Hospital, which operates one of Queensland's busiest emergency departments.

View attachment 26197

Almost 55,000 radiology scans remain unchecked at one of the state's busiest hospitals. Credit: Shutterstock.

The situation is concerning because it means that thousands of Queenslanders might have serious health conditions, such as cancer, without even knowing it.

Reports confirmed the hospital has around 55,000 radiology scans that remain unchecked, and this backlog has been building up over the past 18 months. According to Queensland Health, it might take up to two to three months to clear.

Ron Calvert, Chief Executive of Gold Coast Health, said at a press conference on Thursday that staff shortages are partly to blame for the delay, although an increase in the demand for medical imaging across the state has also had an impact.

The issue is tripled by a change to the National Health Reform Agreement, which has caused 'six-figure' pay cuts for radiologists employed in public hospitals and thus encouraged them to seek employment in the private sector.

Gold Coast University Hospital is currently operating with five fewer radiologists than it needs, and a number of tents have had to be set up at the hospital to help with the overflow of patients.

Maria Boulton, President of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, added that a 'global shortage of healthcare professionals' is also causing a problem: 'When you look at a busy radiology department in a busy hospital, that will include nurses, radiographers, radiologists.'

Several whistleblowers told Courier Mail that they are worried about the undiagnosed scans that could potentially lead to legal action.

'There is the constant worry about how many tumours or serious issues are being missed or delayed,' one staff member said.

Dr Boulton believes that, generally, people working in the hospital are trying to do the best they can, but if the hospital is 'under-resourced, underfunded and understaffed', it's very hard to keep up when working in a busy environment.

To speed up the scanning process and address the backlog, the health service has outsourced the task to the private sector. Health Minister Shannon Fentiman expressed her determination to resolve the issue, calling the backlog 'unacceptable'.

As of now, there seems to be no other states facing a similar problem.

To alleviate the strain on medical staff, Queensland Health has implemented several initiatives.

They are conducting a recruitment drive aimed at attracting specialists from other states and overseas. They are also offering financial incentives to entice specialists to relocate and work in Queensland.

'We strongly support any measures that will reduce the barriers for international clinicians to relocate to Australia,' they said.

Key Takeaways

• Almost 55,000 radiology scans remain unchecked at Gold Coast University Hospital, one of Queensland's busiest hospitals, potentially leaving patients with undiagnosed serious health conditions.
• The backlog of medical imaging scans, which has built up over about 18 months, is due to staff shortages and increased demand for medical imaging across the state.
• A pay cut for radiologists in public hospitals has seen many move to the private sector.
• In order to address the backlog, the hospital was said to be prioritising the most important scans and offloading some to the private sector. Queensland Health is also implementing initiatives to attract more medical staff.

Members, if you've recently undergone medical imaging scans in Queensland and are currently waiting for the results, we advise you to get in touch with your hospital to find out if your scans are included in the delay.

We would like to hear your thoughts on this news. Has this situation affected you or someone you know? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

I have to have scans every 6 months but we are lucky here in FNQ . The scans are always readily available.

 

[Jennylolo]

someone could lose their life waiting

 

[Leenie]

Rest assured it won’t be a politician