Extract from CEO AGM Report; This week In writing my report I emailed Nick Steele, (Deputy Director General Qld Health) and David Harmer (Senior Director, Strategy Policy & Legislation Branch) reminding them “It’s now a year since we met with the then Qld Health Minister, Cameron Dick and 8 months since their visit to Little Haven.” And of both the Minister and their commitment given several times to fix our funding, and come back to us with a renewed funding arrangement by September.
For what it’s worth this is the update received at 10 am today … “The timeframe and scope of the review has broadened and they’re now aiming for December. Certainty of funding at current levels is clearly provided for until 2023, however they have no insight into whether this will be increased”. How very benevolent of them.
So what now. Be Indignant!!! If you hold any position of influence – Politicians, Journalists, Branch members keep asking the question – Why is Little Haven the poorest funded of the NGO’s receiving less than ½ the funding of our Sunshine Coast equivalent and ½ again of our Brisbane equivalent. And if they fob you off with inanities like – “they can’t fund Little Haven while others in the regions have no access to Palliative Care… Ask How so? When in the absence of services like ours patients are forced into the far more expensive and overburdened hospital system.
We know the value of our service and the only thing that threatens it is a health system that lacks foresight and leadership – that pays lip service to end of life care by commissioning enquirers while ignoring the recommendations. A regional health minister that visits the center, hears the story yet does nothing to right the inequity (to quote the Commissioner) for this very best of regional services.
