The Queensland government says patients with elective surgery booked in for next Thursday will be contacted if their procedure needs to be postponed due to the public holiday.

But the Australian Medical Association in Queensland says patients are still confused by the messaging ahead of the national day of mourning.

Urgent care will be prioritised, but the government is leaving decisions around elective surgery up to each hospital, depending on staffing levels.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace tried to offer some clarity today, saying decisions on surgeries will likely be made on a case-by-case basis.

Neil Breen has been pursuing the state government and Queensland Health for days for clarification about how the public health system will be impacted by the impromptu public holiday.

He said today’s press conference still left patients in the dark.

Neil: Are you still confused?

Dr Maria Boulton, AMAQ president: Yes I am, and I did ring the Minster Grace Grace office’s to seek clarification as to what is meant by case-by-case basis, and we were referred to Queensland Health. By that stage we had already written to Queensland Health asking for clarification as to who exactly is going to be affected next Thursday. We haven’t heard back yet.

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