(Adopted October 2014, Updated July 2016, Updated January 2021; Updated November 2021)
Principles
The Queensland Greens believe that:
1. Health policy should be based on the best medical evidence available.
2. Preventative healthcare is the most effective way to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
3. Access to quality health care is a basic human right.
4. Individual health outcomes are influenced by the inter-relationship of biological, social, economic and environmental factors.
5. An effective health system must be based on preventative and primary health care measures available to all age groups,.
6. The Queensland Government is responsible for ensuring that all Queenslanders and those with reciprocal rights have access to the resources and opportunities essential for good health.
7. The publicly funded health system, is the most equitable way to resource and deliver health services.
8. An integrated approach across government departments is required to improve health outcomes in the community, especially in the priority areas of indigenous health, chronic illness, child health, and mental health.
9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should have health outcomes and life expectancy equal to other Queenslanders. .
10. Health service participation in appropriate research and evaluation is an important component of providing effective services.
11. Funding models for health services should incorporate mechanisms to ensure that health services capacity develops in line with population growth generally and with population changes in localised areas.,.
12. An effective health care system is dependent upon a skilled, competent and well resourced workforce and must include properly assessed and regularly updated training and registration.
13. People have a right to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.
14. We support the right of people with severe and incurable disease to choose to die with dignity.
Aims
The Queensland Greens will:
Services and Care
1. Ensure that all Queensland communities have appropriate access to generalist health care, through:
a) Support for community health centres in rural and remote areas.
b) The expansion of telemedicine services.
c) Improvement in obstetrics services by increasing the number of salaried midwives and making changes to their practice including access to provider numbers and facilities in community health centres and improvements in home delivery options for low risk births.
2. Fund a whole of government approach to respond to disease prevention and chronic illness through specific programs aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality from:
a) Obesity
b) Diabetes
c) Mental disorders
d) Cardiovascular disease
e) Vaccine preventable disease
3. Increase funding and research for services and efficiency measures to reduce pressure on hospital services, including primary care services, community health centres, after hours GP clinics attached to regional hospitals, an expanded range of accommodation and home care options, telephone based health information services and e-health initiatives.
4. Develop appropriate accommodation options for young people currently inappropriately housed in aged care facilities.
5. Assess younger chronically ill patients to improve access to a range of supported accommodation programs.
6. Improve access to healthcare for overseas visitors in life threatening situations if no reciprocal agreement is in place.
7. Fund e-health records and improving information management and client access to personal medical information.
8. Improve access for clients to information on their rights, and to advocacy services to exercise these rights, through independent mechanisms for complaint, appeal and redress.
9. Improving integration of data systems to ensure efficient clinical and administrative delivery of health services.
10. Enhance the capacity building of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers through training, education, and mentoring programmes and incentives to retain staff.
11. Provide specialised services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address their unique health needs.
12. Extend community education programs and clinical hours for sexual health clinics in rural and remote areas.
13. Increase capacity in the public hospital system through: a) Reducing admissions through disease prevention programs; b) Reopening wards by increasing personnel funding; c) Establishing good early discharge planning practices and placement of patients in suitable community accommodation options.
14. Provide better support and recognition for Carers, by increasing respite services for carers and patients, particularly for rural and remote areas with insufficient specialist services.
15. Ensure that dentistry is fully incorporated into the public health system.
16. Adequate funding for cross departmental programs to address health promotion and prevention activities.
17. Abolish parking fees for patients, staff and visitors at public hospitals.
18. Fund a free season of active sport and recreation for all school age children per year.
Workforce development
17. Promote an increase in the number of medical, dental and allied health professionals in Queensland by supporting education and training programs.
18. Improve incentives and structural support to enable health professionals to continue employment in Queensland health services, especially in under-staffed clinical or geographical areas.
19. Review the capacity for health professionals to participate in a broader range of clinical activities in areas with limited access to necessary health professionals.
20. Implement accreditation standards and professional registration for complementary medicine practitioners.
21. Allow appropriately trained and experienced nurse practitioners to register in specialist fields such as midwifery and gerontology and to access Medicare provider numbers.