I feel like as a bright-eyed cadet 30 years ago I was writing stories about Queensland’s public health crisis.
Yet, here we are still arguing about a need for more resources, better equipment and innovative solutions to manage health care in our public hospitals.
Queensland Health will speak about record low numbers of elective waiting times.
Union officials will speak about some of the worst ever waiting times in emergency departments, burnt out staff, and poor response to those in immediate need of care.
Truth is, there is self-interest in both statements.
The state government needs to push the glass-half-full argument for the sake of its reputation, and a need to be seen to be making improvements.
The position of health minister was always seen as the poison chalice, a no-win portfolio with eternal downside.
Unions are fighting for their members, trying to improve staff conditions, increase the number of health care workers, and argue for processes which ultimately lead to better morale.
One thing for sure is that while the political ping pong plays out, surgeons, doctors, nurses, researchers and other health care workers will be working their hearts out to be the best they can – for it is they who have the lives of patients placed delicately in their hands.
We can debate the efficiencies of the system, but we should never forget to applaud the frontline workers who are making a difference every day.
