• 
  COTA Queensland response to Health Services Inquiry

  COTA Queensland's response to the Committee's report on the Health Services Inquiry to be published on the Health Services Hub April/May 2022. 

• 
  COTA Queensland Health Services Inquiry submission published

  The COTA Queensland Health Services Inquiry submission was published on the Queensland Parliamentary website 21 January 2022. 

• 
  QLD Parliamentary Inquiry findings report published

  The Health and Environment Committee provided the Inquiry report to the Legislative Assembly by 8 April 2022 (this was extended from the original date of 31 March 2022). 

• 
  COTA Queensland Inquiry responses submitted

  COTA Queensland extended the date for responses until Tuesday 21 December 2021. 

• 
  Inquiry consultation closed

  Queensland Parliament extended the Inquiry submission deadline until Thursday 23 December 2021.

• 
  QLD Parliamentary Inquiry into Health Services opened

  The Inquiry into the Provision of Primary, Allied and Private Health Care, Aged Care and NDIS Care Services and its Impact on the Queensland Public Health System was announced 17 November 2021.

How health currently works in Queensland

• The State Government currently oversees the public hospital and health services through the Queensland Health system.  
• The Federal Government along with private and non-government organisations oversee aged care and primary care services.  
  • Primary care services may include General Practitioners (GPs), nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, community health centres, allied health (e.g., physiotherapist, social worker, podiatrist, pharmacist, speech pathologist, dietitian, occupational therapist), and platforms which enable use of technology for health consultations such as video consultations or telehealth services. 
• Private and non-Government organisations oversee the private hospital services. 

Inquiry briefing

The Inquiry briefing 29 November 2021 highlighted that the Queensland health system is stretched and this is due to multiple factors including but not limited to e.g., geography, service gaps, impact of the pandemic, and general inequity, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities. Primary Queensland Health services are often used as a last resort for health care in these communities. Chronic disease management, in addition to mental health, specialist outpatient and emergency services, for example, are key areas which require more attention.

Communities continue to experience issues around accessibility and availability of health services across primary, allied health, disability services, and across aged care services. The Inquiry briefing further revealed that in terms of primary health care supports, there was, for example:

• 1 General Practitioner (GP) for every 766 people in metropolitan communities
• 1 GP for every 1160 people in rural communities
• 1 GP for every 1428 people in remote communities

This Inquiry seeks to gain a better understanding of the reality of health care and the needs of Queenslanders including the complexities and inequity in the accessibility and availability of services.