Wednesday 14 January 2009

130 NURSES TO BE SACKED: DELLA BOSCA’S LATEST ATTACK ON FRONTLINE HEALTH SERVICES

Revelations 129 nursing positions are to be axed from the Greater Western Area Health Service shows the State Labor Government continues to cut frontline health services, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

Reports indicate 129 nursing positions will be axed over the next three months as part of $60 million worth of mini-budget cuts being made by the State Labor Government to the Greater Western Area Health service funding.

“It defies belief that Health Minister Della Bosca would be cutting 130 nursing jobs from an Area Health Service that is in such dire straights,” Mrs Skinner said.

“This health service has already had well documented problems paying their bills on time, cutting more money from frontline health services is not the way to solve this problem,” she said.

“The State Labor Government’s mini-budget forecast a minimum of $205 million worth of cuts to area health services across NSW.

“The question John Della Bosca must answer is how many other area health services across NSW will be sacking frontline nurses on his watch?

“We’ve already seen massive staff cuts in the North Coast Area Health Service, now the Greater Western Area Health Service is cutting nurses – which area will next feel Labor’s mini-budget cuts to their hospital services?

“The Health Minister and the Premier were clearly not being honest when they claimed the mini-budget would not result in cuts to frontline services.

“Nurses are on the frontline of our hospitals, sacking them simply to save money makes no sense.

“This is a State Labor Government that has its priorities all wrong,” Mrs Skinner said.