Thursday 19 November 2009
AMA CONFIRMS LABOR’S HEALTH FAILURE: NSW LIBERALS & NATIONALS WILL DELIVER REAL CHANGE
The AMA (NSW) has confirmed Labor’s failure to properly implement the Garling inquiry recommendations, with a survey revealing nearly three-quarters of doctors believe the NSW health system hasn’t become a better place to work, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.
The survey conducted for the AMA (NSW) and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers (NSW) found:
- 74% of doctors do not believe the NSW public hospital system has become a better place to work in the last 6 months;
- 71% of doctors say their health service has reduced the number of clinical staff by not filling vacancies or making staff redundant;
- A mere 6% agreed there had been a positive change in workplace culture, overwhelmingly 70% disagreed;
- 62% of doctors have not seen efforts to improve local decision making, and;
- 68% of doctors have not seen efforts by management to seek doctors’ input.
“These survey results confirm Labor is failing to implement the important Garling inquiry recommendations – meaning patients and staff will continue to suffer the same problems under the Rees Labor Government,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Labor’s failure can be summed up by their failure to act on infection control and hand hygiene in our public hospitals,” he said.
“Commissioner Garling found hospital acquired infection is costing the NSW health system upwards of $600 million each year, and recommended each ward must publicly display monthly rates of hospital acquired infections and compliance with hand washing.
“An independent audit on the Rees Government’s progress on implementing this recommendation has found Labor is failing, stating: “no health service have yet implemented the more rigorous audit training and implementation required by the national hand hygiene initiative”, and some Area Health Services “have taken the approach of assigning a status of ‘achieved’ once regular hand hygiene audits are conducted regardless of results”.
“Labor’s health policies and their Area Health Services have failed to deliver better health care for NSW families, which is why a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will remove them.
“A NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will create smaller Health Districts with local Boards made up of community representatives and expert clinicians – we will give power back to local communities,” Mr O’Farrell said.
Mrs Skinner said hardworking public hospital doctors are telling Health Minister Tebbutt Labor’s approach is failing, but she is refusing to listen.
“Carmel Tebbutt is ignoring these hardworking and experienced doctors, her weak leadership is putting quality patient care in jeopardy,” she said.
“Only a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to delivering a health system that puts patients first, and re-engages demoralised medical professionals.
“Each Health District will have its own Board, which will include local community members and clinicians from local health facilities.
“Instead of ignoring the medical experts, we will listen to them, work with them and deliver patients better care,” Mrs Skinner said.