22 Dec 2021
With our state border due to open on 17 December, Health Consumers Queensland hosted 3 webcasts. Our aim was to increase the COVID-readiness of Queensland health consumers and carers. We did this by providing a forum for information-sharing by clinical experts and leaders from Queensland Health. What we heard was that Queenslanders feel uncertainty and want to:
- Hear from their local health services
- Know what plans are in place
- Know how to escalate issues
- Know how to be prepared
See the webcast series here >
Download the summary paper >
4 Nov 2021
Queensland’s COVID-19 pandemic response has exposed the existing disparities in access to healthcare.
Just as the state’s vaccination response has needed to focus on our more vulnerable citizens, so too has our health system long needed a reset based on equity and value.
The safety and wellbeing of health consumers relies on a Queensland Health system that operates wholistically, collaborating to provide seamless, evidence-based care for the benefit of Queenslanders, no matter where they live or who they are.
The need during a pandemic surge to provide care closer to home, coordinated with primary care, is an opportunity to finally embed the reform consumers and many in the system have wanted for so long.
Read the full Issues Paper >
25 Aug 2021
Faced with an outbreak of the Delta variant and a swift lockdown in South East Queensland, HCQ asked consumers around the State: How are the latest COVID-19 outbreaks affecting you and your health?
Read the situation report >
28 Jun 2021
Last week, Queensland Health gave a record 80,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This issues paper shares consumers’ most recent experiences of the rollout up until 22 June 2021 and includes your reactions to ATAGI’s latest revised recommendations for the Astra Zeneca vaccine. It also presents your ideas and suggestions about what needs to improve so that the roll-out feels well-run, safe and person-centred.
Read the issues paper >
18 May 2021
Exploring the impact of the slow progress of the vaccine roll-out program across our states and territories and the decision to suspend the distribution of the Astra Zeneca vaccine for under 50s, on health consumers and carers across the State.
There is an urgent need for health professionals known to and trusted by their high risk patients to offer a proactive, joined up, team-centred approach so decisions can be made confidently.
Read the issues paper >
1 Apr 2021
Many consumers are living with chronic or multiple conditions which mean they are in category 1B, which is rolling out now. For this reason they experience a real sense of urgency for them to get the information they need about the vaccine: is it safe for them (and their specific circumstances), how and who can they have this safety conversation with, and when they will be vaccinated.
Read the issues paper >
11 Mar 2021
In the past 4 weeks, Health Consumers Queensland has hosted two Q&A Forums about the COVID-19 vaccine roll out in Queensland: The first enabled consumers from across our network to put their questions to Queensland’s Chief Health Officer (CHO), Dr Jeannette Young. The second was specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health consumers who put questions to the CHO and the Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director-General Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Ms Haylene Grogan. This summary paper highlights the shared themes and differences between the Q&A Forums and examines what your questions tell Queensland Health along with suggestions for changes and improvements.
Read the issues paper >
23 Feb 2021
As the State faces an uncertain economic future with the pandemic draining the public purse, a looming recession and a significant burden of chronic disease and health inequity, key decisions about funding,
resourcing and service priorities are only going to get tougher. However, currently, consumers do not have a seat at the table to help shape these decisions even though their health care and health outcomes are directly affected by them.
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