Sunday 21 June 2009

MAN BREAKS NECK, SENT HOME WITH PANADOL: MORE LABOR AREA HEALTH SERVICE FAILURE

Health Minister John Della Bosca must explain why a man with a broken neck was sent home from hospital and told only to take Panadol, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

Mr Paul Curtis, aged 31, attended Ryde Hospital on Friday 29 May after a head clash. After waiting for two hours, no x-rays or scans were taken and he was sent home. He returned to the hospital on Monday and upon appropriate scans was told he had a broken neck.

“It was nothing more than luck that saved this man from sustaining further damage as a result of not being treated properly – quite frankly the fact he was sent home with the injuries he had is enough to send shivers down the spine,” Mrs Skinner said.

“The Rees Labor Government has failed to provide Ryde Hospital with the resources it needs to deal with cases like this,” she said.

“Ryde Hospital has been starved of resources under Labor, and that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Health Minister John Della Bosca and his incompetent Area Health Services.

“After 14 years in government, Labor has failed.

“We have positive practical plans to fix the health system by abolishing Labor’s failed Area Health Services and replacing them with more efficient and more community focused Health Districts.

“It’s not the staff’s fault the Rees Labor Government hasn’t given them the resources they need to treat patients properly.

“Families in Ryde should feel confident presenting to their local hospital when accidents happen, but because of the Rees Labor Government’s underfunding, that confidence has been shaken.

“Ryde Hospital should have the equipment and skilled staff required so that patients arriving at the facility can get the best possible treatment,” Mrs Skinner said.