General News
12 March, 2025
Aged care action needed, says Cloncurry mayor
Greg Campbell argues that his community has triggered the need for an expansion due to a rising waiting list.
The waiting lists are growing at the Cloncurry residential aged care facility and there doesn’t appear to be a clear plan to expand the number of beds on offer, says Greg Campbell.
The Cloncurry mayor has taken aim at the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS), claiming the health needs of his growing community are being repeatedly overlooked despite Queensland Health undertaking the biggest infrastructure spend in living memory across the region.
Cr Campbell said communities across the Gulf and Camooweal had new facilities slated, and a new Mount Isa Hospital had been identified as a priority project in the coming decade.
He said this was despite Cloncurry desperately needing a new multipurpose health facility, including an expansion of the 10-bed aged care facility, which he said had a further 10 people on the waiting list.
“I have gotten the impression there isn’t a lot of forward planning being undertaken to bring about a new hospital for Cloncurry,” Cr Campbell told North West Weekly.
“There are as many people on the wait list than there are beds at our aged care facility.
“With a wait list that big, surely there has got to be a trigger for the government to expand our services?”
NWHHS chief executive Sean Birgan said a recent audit had identified that an additional five aged care beds would be required by 2036.
“We acknowledge the current situation where there are community members expressing interest in admission to Cloncurry aged care facility,” he said.
“At present, 10 individuals have shown interest in being admitted to the facility; however, do not feel ready to move in just yet.
“We work very closely in partnership with other local healthcare providers to offer temporary solutions, such as in-home care services or alternate care options.”
Cr Campbell said he planned to raise his concerns with the state’s new Health Minister Tim Nicholls.
“The North West HHS appears to be able prioritise where its capital spend is, and Cloncurry doesn’t appear to be a priority,” he said.
“I have asked North West HHS for answers and the North West Weekly has asked the questions too and I don’t think any of us have received adequate answers yet.
“We see North West HHS talk about replacing aged assets in other communities – well, the Cloncurry Hospital is substantially older. That is one metric where they are not following their own guidelines.”
Mr Birgan said the state government remained committed to new and upgraded hospitals “as essential building blocks to deliver health services”.
“It is currently reviewing priorities across the state to understand the status of proposed new and upgraded hospitals,” he said.
“The outcomes will inform the future strategy and implementation of new and upgraded hospitals including Cloncurry. We appreciate Mayor Campbell’s concerns about the future growth of Cloncurry and the need for adequate healthcare services to support that growth.”