The South Burnett Regional Council and the South Burnett Community Hospital Foundation would not renew the lease of Rural Medical Centres Ltd who had a GP practice Glendon St Medical Centre that was one of the oldest practices. This left thousands in the community without GP / primary healthcare since mid August 2016. Many residents have their heartbreaking stories of not being able to get medical care due to this decision. Rural health is being ignore because our voice doesn't get heard by mainstream media with the exception of Courier Mail. We have lobbied Cameron Dick Qld Health Minister and Sussan Ley MP Health Minister but they play politics with the issue instead of action. During the Qld Local Government elections our State MP Deb Frecklington MP played political photo opportunities with the Kingaroy Public Hospital. A doctors shortage is a real issue for rural communities and here is an example of one council supporting and helping their community and another council playing politics.

If there was no bulk billing available how would this affect you choice to see a doctor? Already patients are attending the Kingaroy ED for GP cases.

Rural Medial Centres has been advocating for the health of the South Burnett. http://www.southburnetttimes.com.au/news/kingaroy-hospital-upgrade-a-priority/2979336/

Here is what Mayor Wayne Kratzmann of the South Burnett Regional Council said in the Courier Mail Article on 23/01/2016 --South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said he “continually” hears complaints about the public hospital and had been waiting 15 years for upgrades. “The poor condition of the public hospital has put pressure on us to reopen (the private facility), if we had a new public hospital in Kingaroy we may not have had to go down this track,” he said. He said people travelled to Brisbane, Hervey Bay or Toowoomba because of the poor standards at the public hospital. With the closure of the private hospital the town lost the services of 11 visiting specialists and two visiting surgeons.--- I ask why did he not direct the #saveourhospital to the Kingaroy Hospital? He pushed the #saveourhospital campaign for a $300,000 plus loss making Private Hospital that Council want to run in competition to the public hospital. The demographics of the South Burnett have an average wage of $20,644. (stats from ABS). This week we saw the Mayor of Roma took the Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk MP on a tour of their public hospital that was just granted $70million upgrade. Instead our Mayor forgets about those in our community who can't afford private health ( majority ) and pushes in the media his #saveourhospital at the wrong facility. #fixourhospital

This is our petition on change org . to get our hospital upgraded #fixourhospital Your support is appreciated

PLEASE HELP US ---SHARE THIS STORY ----- Please share this story from The Courier Mail in Saturday 23rd January 2016. We had a petition on change.org that our State MP Deb Frecklington said it was non-conforming and didn't support it. The Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and South Burnett Council didn't support. The local paper didn't support and we had to pay for newspaper ads to let the community know. 2 weeks running they run in the paper that the State MP Ms Frecklington had a petition. Our petition was halted by the State MP who after now being in 2 terms decided after our petition was up online with change org , the next day started her own petition. This confused the locals. Over 800 support and stories of experiences were on our petition. This is not a political football. Please help us to spread the word through social media to #fixourhospital . We really appreciate you sharing this with your friends as The Courier Mail listened to us and helped us bring light to this #fixourhospital. Go on their facebook page tell them you want to help a rural community get their hospital out of the 1940's. The more noise we make then Queensland Health Cameron Dick Annastacia Palaszczuk MP will be compelled to meet with us.