News
30 September, 2025
Doctor’s finally calling
DESPERATELY needed new doctors will not start at Kilcoy Hospital until January 2026, nearly a year after a doctors’ shortage at the local ER was exposed by The Sentinel.
Metro North Health said that additional medical officers had been “successfully recruited” and would be commencing early next year to provide “greater in-person medical officer coverage”.
The extended recruitment campaign comes as patients and families continue to report instances of extended wait times as they wait for a doctor or are redirected to other hospitals for treatment.
The most recent case occurred just two weeks ago, when a resident’s family member allegedly went into the ER, only to be told there were no doctors on-site.
This is just one of many instances reported by The Sentinel since January 2025, including the case of little two-year-old Kinsley Daniels, who suffered a severe burn on her hand.
Kinsley allegedly had to wait over an hour to be seen and was not allowed to receive any pain relief in that time.
A Metro North Health spokesperson said the Kilcoy community can “have confidence” in the safety and quality of care available at their local hospital.
“Metro North Health understands the importance of Kilcoy Hospital to its local community,” they said.
“Like many hospitals in Queensland, Kilcoy is impacted by sector-wide workforce shortages, including medical officers.”
The spokesperson said that arrangements are in place to ensure “there is medical coverage at Kilcoy Hospital, 24 hours a day, seven days a week”.
“At times, this medical coverage will be delivered using a virtual doctor service, supported by highly-trained nursing staff,” the spokesperson added.
This is not the first time the Kilcoy community has been promised relief by Metro North.
Metro North told The Sentinel in April that it had “seen the addition of a locum doctor to the hospital’s workforce” in response to a shortage of on-site doctors afterhours and on weekends.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, said active recruiting continues to be a priority, reiterating many Queensland hospitals are struggling with staff.
“Similar to many hospitals across Queensland, Kilcoy Hospital is affected by workforce shortages that are being experienced throughout the healthcare sector, including shortages of medical officers,” she said.
“The Trainee Incentive is a key part of the Crisafulli Government’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan.
“The goal is to grow Queensland’s health workforce by 46,000 new professionals by 2032, including 34,200 clinicians and 18,700 nurses and midwives.”
Queensland Labor Leader, Steven Miles, who had advocated for more on-site doctors at the Kilcoy Hospital in March and celebrated the announcement of a locum doctor being employed in April, said the State Government “should listen to the experts, the staff and the community – and provide them with the health services they need”.
“David Crisafulli said he would listen to the experts. He said there would be no health cuts,” he said.
“But when the Kilcoy community needed doctors and nurses, the State cut incentives to attract frontline healthcare workers.
“They cut afterhours and on-weekends staffing for doctors. It was only after we put pressure on this government did they reverse that decision.”
The Emergency Centre at Kilcoy Hospital remains open 24 hours a day, and in an emergency, people are recommended to call triple zero and follow their advice.
