Introduction by Croakey: The major political parties in Queensland – Labor and the Liberal National Party – have made health workforce their main priority in healthcare commitments ahead of this weekend’s state election, according to Dr Nick Yam, Australian Medical Association Queensland Branch President.
Yam told ABC Gold Coast that “both Labor and the LNP have committed to major growth in our healthcare workforce by 2032. That includes doctors, nurses, allied health. But ultimately the devil is in the detail and how it is implemented is key”.
The AMA Queensland Election Commitments Scorecard has also found public commitments on health training pathways and mental healthcare.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians called on all political parties in Queensland to “do more to attract, retain and support specialists, particularly in rural areas”. Healthcare worker recruitment and retention must be priorities for the next Queensland Government, said Professor Tony Rahman, Chair of the RACP’s Queensland Committee.
Meanwhile, Scott Willis, National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), argues below that unless there is stronger emphasis on the pivotal role of physiotherapy in delivering effective and sustainable healthcare, plans to grow the health workforce “risk falling short”.
The APA urges Queensland’s leaders to prioritise physiotherapy in their health strategies. “We need to embed physiotherapists across the care spectrum, from emergency departments to rural clinics, ensuring that all Queenslanders have access to high-quality, affordable care,” Willis writes.
Scott Willis writes:
As Queensland gears up for the state election this weekend, healthcare is rightly at the forefront of the agenda.
Both major parties have put forward substantial promises aimed at fixing the state’s health system – promises of more hospital beds, expanded services, and significant workforce investments. But without a stronger emphasis on physiotherapy, these plans risk falling short.
The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on both sides of politics to recognise the pivotal role physiotherapy must play in delivering sustainable and effective healthcare outcomes.
With increasing pressures from an ageing population and rising rates of chronic disease, physiotherapists are uniquely positioned to alleviate the burden on Queensland’s overstretched healthcare system.
Reducing hospital strain
The Queensland Labor Government’s Putting Patients First 2024-25 budget includes a $266.4 million investment to improve patient flow and emergency department access, along with $407.3 million for providing care closer to home.
These commitments are essential, but to maximise their impact, physiotherapy must be integrated as a core component of these expanded services.
Non-surgical, physiotherapy-led care pathways are proven to reduce the need for hospital admissions and costly surgeries. With musculoskeletal conditions affecting 1.8 million Queenslanders, early intervention through physiotherapy can prevent the escalation of chronic pain and disability, freeing up critical hospital resources for more urgent cases.
Expanding advanced practice physiotherapy roles in emergency departments and satellite hospitals will support Labor’s plan to improve patient flow and reduce wait times effectively.
The Liberal National Party’s $590.9 million health rescue package targets ambulance ramping, surgical backlogs, and regional healthcare services.
Their goal to reduce ambulance ramping below 30 percent is ambitious – embedding physiotherapy services in emergency and outpatient settings can help achieve this by providing early intervention, minimising hospital admissions, and supporting efficient patient management.
Rural and regional
Both major parties have acknowledged the need to strengthen healthcare in rural and regional areas.
Labor has committed $15.1 million for rural and remote birthing services and expanding renal and chronic disease services.
The LNP, meanwhile, has proposed reopening maternity services and enhancing access to healthcare professionals in these regions. Their plan emphasises investing in regional healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that Queenslanders in remote areas receive equitable healthcare services.
To ensure meaningful outcomes, multidisciplinary teams — including physiotherapists — must be central to these strategies.
Physiotherapists bridge the gap in healthcare provision for remote areas, offering essential services such as chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and preventative care.
Investment in rural physiotherapy services is crucial for improving health outcomes and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to access care. This approach will ensure that Queenslanders in rural and regional areas receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve.
Addressing chronic disease
Both parties have identified chronic disease management as a priority. Labor’s budget includes significant funding for urgent care centres and expanded specialist services to support Queenslanders living with conditions such as kidney disease and cardiovascular issues.
Similarly, the LNP has committed to adopting innovative healthcare delivery methods and world-class triaging systems to streamline care and reduce complications from chronic disease – I am very keen to see further details on this commitment.
Physiotherapy is a cost-effective solution that delivers high-value outcomes. By expanding physiotherapy services within primary and community care settings, Queensland can significantly reduce reliance on hospital-based care and make healthcare more accessible for those who need it most.
Timely access to physiotherapy can prevent the progression of chronic conditions, ensuring Queenslanders maintain their independence and avoid long-term hospitalisation.
Physiotherapy-led reform
The upcoming Queensland election offers an opportunity for real healthcare reform.
Both parties have shown they are willing to invest, but they need to factor in the value of physiotherapy-led models of care to maximise the impact and sustainability of their health policies.
Early intervention, preventative care, and advanced practice physiotherapy roles will not only relieve hospital pressures but also create a more efficient, effective, and patient-centred health system.
The APA calls on Queensland’s leaders to prioritise physiotherapy in their health strategies. We need to embed physiotherapists across the care spectrum, from emergency departments to rural clinics, ensuring that all Queenslanders have access to high-quality, affordable care.
Read the Australian Physiotherapy Association 2024 Queensland Election Priorities here.
Scott Willis is National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
See Croakey’s previous articles on the 2024 Queensland election
