Thursday 3 December 2009

LONGEST WAITING LIST ON RECORD: 66,651

The 14-year-old State Labor Government has recorded the longest hospital waiting list on record, with more than 66,000 patients on waiting lists across NSW, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

Official figures show there are now 66,651 patients on waiting lists in hospitals across NSW – an all time high.

“Labor’s health policies have failed,” Mrs Skinner said.

“There are more patients waiting for surgery in NSW than ever before and it is because the Rees Labor Government has failed miserably to deliver for families, patients and frontline health workers,” she said.

A sample of Labor’s failure

Year	Sept 03	Sept 04	Sept 05	Sept 06	Sept 07	Sept 08	Sept 09
Waiting List	59,286	65,348	59,495	53,424	53,176	57,708	66,651

“The Rees Labor Government’s failure eclipses that of the Carr Labor Government which held the previous record during the dark days of 2004.

“This is the first time the hospital waiting list has topped 66,000 – it is not a record Labor should be proud of – but Carmel Tebbutt tried her best in Parliament today.

“Labor has broken the health and hospital system in NSW through 14 years of incompetence, weak leadership, broken promises and a list of excuses the public have grown sick and tired of hearing from Labor Health Ministers.

“Nothing in NSW will change until there is a change of government in NSW.

“We have clear health policies, like removing Labor’s failed Area Health Services and replacing them with Health Districts with local Boards that will re-empower local communities and expert clinicians.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are united, positive and have clear plans for real change,” Mrs Skinner said.