Monday 15 June 2009
HEALTH BUDGET WON’T FIX 14 YEARS OF LABOR FAILURE AND INCOMPETENCE
No Labor announcements in tomorrow’s health budget will make up for 14 years of Labor failure and incompetence, NSW needs positive practical plans to get our hospitals back on track, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.
“Tomorrow’s health budget is shaping as yet another let down for patients and medical staff across NSW,” Mrs Skinner said.
“As usual we see the Labor Health Minister trumpeting a ‘record’ health spend, and yet again we see no commitment to the reform that is needed to improve health services,” he said.
“Health Minister John Della Bosca didn’t even commit to implementing the coroners recommendations from the tragic case involving the death of Rebecca Murray – what hope do patients and medical staff have that he is committed to change of any kind.
“Just last week we saw the ongoing effects of Labor’s failure and incompetence: the longest hospital waiting list for four years, Area Health Services with massive debts and unpaid bills and patients enduring wards with no heating during the cold snap.
“The NSW health system can’t afford for the Rees Labor Government to simply reannounce old projects in this budget.
“Over 14 years in Government, Labor has failed to address the structural problems in the health system, and this budget will be no different.
“The NSW Liberal/Nationals have positive practical plans to fix our health system.
The NSW Liberal/Nationals six-step plan to improve health services by refocussing the management of the department across NSW will:
- Remove Labor’s huge and out-of-touch Area Health Services and create smaller, community-focussed Health Districts;
- Appoint Boards to the Health Districts and make them accountable to their community;
- Restore the decision-making power of Hospital General Managers and give authority and decision making back to expert clinicians;
- Further develop clinical networks to link medical experts across the State;
- Appoint qualified medical practitioners as Executive Clinical Directors in each Health District; and
- Publish information about health service management including budget allocations, spending, medical errors, infections and other patient outcomes;
“Labor’s Area Health Services have failed. It’s time to remove them and reorganise health management in NSW to improve patient care, “ Mrs Skinner said.