PRESS RELEASE INDEX

March 2008

REBA MEAGHER’S LATEST INCOMPETENCE: CANCER PATIENTS DENIED RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Revelations that radiotherapy treatment sessions for some cancer patients have been cancelled because of broken down equipment shows how badly rundown public hospitals in NSW have become under Reba Meagher, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 31 March 2008

54,000 INCIDENTS AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN JUST SIX MONTHS: REPORT JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

The latest report compiled by the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission has revealed that there were 53,817 clinical ‘incidents’ in the NSW health system in just six months, many of them putting patients at risk, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Sunday 30 March 2008

SKINNER URGES CLINICIANS TO MAKE MOST OF HEALTH INQUIRY RETURNING TO ROYAL NORTH SHORE

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today urged clinicians and members of the public to get along to the second day of Health Inquiry public hearings at Royal North Shore Hospital next week. Saturday 29 March 2008

ANOTHER HEALTH COST BLOWOUT: BLAYNEY MPS FUTURE AT RISK

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and The Nationals MLC for Bathurst Rick Colless today expressed concern over the future of the Blayney MPS following revelations of a 160% blowout in its cost. Friday 28 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AS NSW LOSES OUT ON ALL FRONTS

Deputy NSW Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner said today Morris Iemma’s inaction, ineffectiveness and laziness has been on full display this week. Friday 28 March 2008

MORE IEMMA GOVT HEALTH INCOMPETENCE: 76-YEAR-OLD WOMEN’S TRIPLE BYPASS CANCELLED

The Iemma Government’s health incompetence has been exposed yet again after a woman flew from Bellingen in the state’s north to Sydney for a triple bypass operation on her heart, only to be told her procedure was cancelled, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 27 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA OUT-FOXED BY ANNA BLIGH: NSW MISSES OUT ON ‘EXTRA’ HOSPITAL FUNDS

Morris Iemma has been hopelessly out-foxed by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh over hospital funding, Deputy NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 27 March 2008

REBA MEAGHER MANIPULATING EMERGENCY WAITING TIME FIGURES

The Iemma Government and Health Minister Reba Meagher continue to deny manipulating emergency waiting time data despite mounting evidence pointing to systemic doctoring of official figures, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 25 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA HAS FORM ON DOCTORING HEALTH STATS: COALITION

Morris Iemma has form on doctoring health statistics and cannot be believed when his Government claims the problems are isolated, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Health Minister Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 24 March 2008

IEMMA GOVT MUST PLAY PART TO RAISE ORGAN DONATION: COALITION

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today called on the Iemma Government to play a greater role in the promotion of organ donation. Saturday 22 March 2008

NORTH COAST RESIDENTS SHOULD MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD ON LOCAL HEALTH SERVICES

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner called on clinicians and members of the public to make their voices heard at next weeks public hearings of the Garling Health Inquiry at Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie. Thursday 20 March 2008

IEMMA GOVERNMENT TRYING TO GAG FAMILIES, QUESTION MARKS OVER GARLING INQUIRY

Revelations today that former Health Minister John Hatzistergos tried to gag the family of a 13-year-old boy who died in Orange Base Hospital in 2005 shows the disgraceful depths the Iemma Government will go to avoid negative media headlines, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 19 March 2008

MEAGHER’S BACKFLIP ON HOSPITAL FIGURES NO GUARANTEE OF TRANSPARENCY

Reba Meagher’s backflip on publishing more public hospital performance figures is no guarantee the Iemma Government will be more transparent with the public, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 19 March 2008

SKINNER CONGRATULATES COMMUNITY FOR EFFORTS TO SAVE NERINGAH HOSPICE

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today congratulated the residents of the Upper North Shore for their ongoing hard work in the successful fight to stop the closure of palliative care beds at Neringah Hospice. Wednesday 19 March 2008

SKINNER COMMENDS HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS IN THE WORKPLACE

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today congratulated employees at the Hydro Aluminium Smelter at Loxford for participating in an outstanding workplace fitness program. Wednesday 19 March 2008

REBA MEAGHER FAILING HOSPITAL STAFF: FORCED TO PAY $100M IN WORKERS COMP

The health system has reached new lows under Reba Meagher, with revelations the Iemma Government has paid over $100 million in compensation payments to hospital staff because they were injured at work, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 18 March 2008

NURSES THE LATEST GROUP TO VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT DOCTOR REEVES

Nurses are the latest group to come forward, claiming their complaints about Dr Graeme Reeves, were ignored by health authorities, Shadow Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Member for Bega Andrew Constance said today. Sunday 16 March 2008

CONFIDENCE LOST IN REBA MEAGHER: LABOR MPs TURN TO OPPOSITION OVER HEALTH CRISIS

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today Labor MPs have turned to the Opposition for help in a clear loss of confidence in Health Minister Reba Meagher and her attempts to muzzle the Special Commission into Health. Thursday 13 March 2008

CLINICIANS AND PUBLIC MUST MAKE VOICE HEARD AT RNS COMMISSION HEARING

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and Ku-ring-gai MP Barry O'Farrell today called on clinicians and members of the public to make their voices heard at Friday's public hearing of the Special Health Commission at Royal North Shore Hospital. Wednesday 12 March 2008

TEN YEARS OF SHAVING, THERE'S PLENTY MORE LIVES THAT NEED SAVING

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today encouraged everyone to become involved in the World's Greatest Shave which is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year. Wednesday 12 March 2008

RUDD SLASHES MEDICARE DENTAL SCHEME, MEAGHER WATCHES SILENTLY FROM THE SIDELINES

The Rudd Government's announcement that it will slash the Medicare dental scheme by the end of the month, shows Labor's pre-election promises of better care, at both a Federal and State level were nothing more than political hot air, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 11 March 2008

PUBLIC HEARINGS AREN'T PUBLIC UNLESS THEY ARE PUBLICISED: O'FARRELL

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell yesterday wrote to Special Commissioner Peter Garling over the Iemma Government's failure to alert hospital staff and the public to the public hearings being held this month as part of the health inquiry. Tuesday 11 March 2008

COALITION WELCOMES MORRIS IEMMA'S DELAYED RESPONSE TO FILM INDUSTRY CRISIS

Shadow Minister for Arts Jillian Skinner today welcomed Morris Iemma's delayed reaction to the film and television industry crisis NSW. Sunday 9 March 2008

LABOR'S MORGUE FAILURE PUTTING GRIEVING FAMILIES THROUGH MORE HEARTACHE

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said Labor's ongoing failure to address problems at the Westmead Morgue were putting grieving families through even more heartache. Sunday 9 March 2008

AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES: REBA MEAGHER FAILING IN YET ANOTHER CRITICAL HEALTH AREA

Health Minister Reba Meagher is failing in yet another key area of health, with official figures showing ambulance response times are worse now, than at any other time over the past two years, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today.Sunday 9 March 2008

NSW LIBERAL/NATIONALS PADP ROUNDTABLE A SUCCESS

Disability groups from across NSW have met today at the NSW Liberal/Nationals Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) Roundtable, convened by Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and Shadow Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance, to discuss continuing problems including under-funding of the program by the Iemma Labor Government. Friday 7 March 2008

SPECIAL COMMISSION RESPONDS TO COALITION PUSH TO INVESTIGATE REEVES SCANDAL

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today welcomed advice from Special Commissioner Garling that the Government's health inquiry would investigate the Dr Graeme Reeves scandal. Thursday 6 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA HANGS REBA MEAGHER OUT TO DRY

Morris Iemma has hung out to dry embattled Health Minister Reba Meagher by failing to express his support for her in State Parliament today, Deputy NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said. Thursday 6 March 2008

REEVES DOSSIER PROVES TOO MANY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT HIS HISTORY AND FAILED TO ACT

A NSW Medical Board dossier that the NSW Health Department had access to, proves the State Government's re-employment of Dr Graeme Reeves was nothing short of gross negligence that resulted in potentially hundreds of women being harmed, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 6 March 2008

IEMMA LABOR MP'S VOTE DOWN DEBATE ON THE MEDICAL MUTILATIONS SCANDAL

NSW Labor MP's should be condemned for voting down a debate on the Iemma Government's pathetic handling of the scandal surrounding allegations of medical mutilations by Dr Graeme Reeves, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 5 March 2008

MOTHER DIES AT THE HANDS OF A MALFUNCTIONING HEALTH SYSTEM: FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS

Health Minister Reba Meagher must explain why systemic problems contributed to the death of a woman after giving birth to her third child at Bathurst Hospital, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 5 March 2008

REBA MEAGHER'S SCAPEGOAT BACK AT WORK: APPARENTLY NO ONE IS TO BLAME FOR BATHURST HOSPITAL BUNGLE

Despite talking tough about her 'sacking' of a health planner in the wake of the Bathurst Hospital bungle, news that the bureaucrat has returned to work proves Health Minister Reba Meagher was never serious about getting to the bottom of this disaster, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 4 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA'S ARTS BUDGET CUTS: THE CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ARE LEAVING SYDNEY

Morris Iemma's budget cuts to some of the State's largest cultural institutions are starting to bite as NSW's best artistic, creative and cultural talent seek out better opportunities interstate, Shadow Minister for the Arts Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 3 March 2008

MORE VICTIMS AND POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR ANSWERS ON BEGA HEALTH SCANDAL

With more victims coming forward and telling their stories as well as a mass class action against the Iemma Government becoming a real possibility, it is imperative that Health Minister Reba Meagher start providing answers about the Health Department's role in the Bega health scandal, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 3 March 2008