Wednesday 22 April 2009

LABOR’S HEALTH MISMANAGEMENT CLOSES THEATRES AND DELAYS VITAL OPERATIONS

Revelations a Central Coast breast cancer patient requiring a mastectomy will have to wait three weeks for her operation because of Rees Government budget cuts to operating theatres shows how Labor has mismanaged hospitals in NSW, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

“This woman needs to have her surgery immediately to address her physical health needs, but also the mental anguish this delay is causing her,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Families and patients should not have to endure delays to their cancer treatment because of Labor budget cuts,” she said.

“The cuts to the health portfolio in Nathan Rees’ Mini-Budget are starting to bite, with many hospitals extending their Easter operating theatre shutdown to four weeks to cut costs.

“Nathan Rees’ Mini-Budget cuts are resulting in people waiting longer to get vital operations.

“The Mini-Budget directed the Area Health Services to cut $64 million from their budget by June – these are the cuts that have closed operating theatres across the state for extended periods.

“Health Minister John Della Bosca has extended the Easter operating theatre shutdown to save money, and patients are suffering.

“Surgeons and doctors want to operate on their patients but are being denied valuable theatre time because of Nathan Rees’ Mini-Budget cuts.

“There are 2,144 patients waiting for operations at Gosford Hospital, but Labor’s Mini-Budget cuts means they’ll all have to wait longer for their surgery.

“If Labor hadn’t mismanaged the hospital system operating theatres would have to close down to save money.

“Labor’s incompetence is causing patients to suffer,” Mrs Skinner said.