Friday 5 March 2010
HUNTER CANNOT SUFFER MORE LABOR HEALTH CUTS: NSW LIBS & NATS WILL STAND UP FOR HUNTER PATIENTS
The NSW Liberals & Nationals stand firmly against any more Labor cuts to hospitals and other health services in the Hunter, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner, Liberal Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann and Maitland based Liberal MLC Robyn Parker said today.
According to reports in the Daily Telegraph Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Tomaree Community Hospital, James Fletcher and Morisset Hospitals are under threat from Labor’s health plans.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are firmly committed to ensuring families in the Hunter have access to quality health facilities now and into the future,” Mrs Skinner said.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals will abolish Labor’s failed Area Health Services, replacing them with smaller Health Districts, which will put health care back in the hands of the Hunter community and local medical experts, giving the community the opportunity to protect its local health services.
“Unfortunately Labor does not share our commitment to health services in the Hunter region.
“Hunter families deserve a guarantee their hospitals and community health facilities have a future – only the NSW Liberals & Nationals are willing to give that guarantee.
“Labor’s Area Health Services have failed to deliver better care for NSW patients: that’s why we’re having this health debate in the first place.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals have positive plans to deliver a health system that re-engages demoralised medical professionals, returns decision making to locals and puts patients first.
“Everyone, except Kristina Keneally and her incompetent State Labor Government, agree that we need to change the way we deliver health services in NSW and that must include greater involvement of local communities and local health experts in decision-making.
“It’s time Frank Terenzini, Kerry Hickey, Matthew Morris, Robert Coombs, Jodi McKay, Sonia Hornery and Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt signed up to smaller health administrative bodies, like the NSW Liberals & Nationals Health Districts with boards, and allowed the Hunter community to determine the future of their local health services,” Mrs Skinner said.
Ms Parker said only the NSW Liberals & Nationals plan to break up Hunter New England Area Health Service and replace it with smaller Health Districts with boards can protect the future of Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Nelson Bay & District, James Fletcher and Morisset Hospitals.
“Local Labor Members Frank Terenzini, Kerry Hickey, Matthew Morris, Robert Coombs, Jodi McKay and Sonia Hornery must say whether they support the current Hunter New England Area Health Service or whether they want the Area Health Service to be broken up and localised,” Ms Parker said.
Mr Baumann said he will continue to fight for the retention and expansion of services at Tomaree.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals will put patients first and for this to occur we need to see more Liberal Members elected to represent the Hunter in the 2011 election,” Mr Baumann said.