PRESS RELEASE INDEX

April 2008

IEMMA MUST ABANDON PLANS TO HOUSE MALE PRISONERS AT PARRAMATTA FEMALE FACTORY PRECINCT

Shadow Minister for Health and Shadow Minister for the Arts Jillian Skinner and Shadow Minister for Women Pru Goward today visited the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct and called on the Iemma Labor Government to immediately abandon plans to house male prisoners including sex offenders at the site. Wednesday 30 April 2008

RESIGNATION OF SENIOR BUREAUCRAT LINKED WITH REEVES CASE LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

The resignation of the head of the Area Health Service who hired Dr Graeme Reeves raises serious concerns that important questions about his employment will not be answered by the Iemma Government, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and Liberal Member for Bega Andrew Constance said today. Wednesday 30 April 2008

HOSPITAL STAFF ASSAULTED, PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS SEDATED IN ED AS IEMMA CLOSES MENTAL HEALTH BEDS

A severe shortage of mental health beds has resulted in staff being assaulted, psychiatric patients being housed in the emergency department as well as forcing the closure of the Emergency Medical Unit at Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 29 April 2008

GARLING HEALTH INQUIRY MOVES TO TWEED

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner has welcomed tomorrow’s arrival of the Garling Health Inquiry to Tweed Hospital, following the NSW Opposition successful push for hearings on the North Coast. Monday 28th April 2008

FEWER BEDS AT ROYAL NORTH SHORE NOW THAN WHEN LABOR WAS ELECTED 13 YEARS AGO

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today condemned the Iemma Labor Government for its latest health bungle at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH). Sunday 27 April 2008

SKINNER ON A FERRY CRUSADE

North Shore MP Jillian Skinner has criticised the Iemma Government for its failure to provide ferry services that can be relied on and wharves that are shabby and dirty. April 27th 2008

MORRIS IEMMA: 3 DAYS, 3 RE-ANNOUNCEMENTS – TIME TO PASS ON THE BATON

Embattled Premier Morris Iemma has resorted to three re-announcements in three days – proof he’s out of puff and out of ideas to fix this state, Deputy NSW Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 23 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER GIVES PATIENTS NO CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC HOSPITAL IS FIRE SAFE

Despite being asked to clarify whether hospitals across the state are a fire hazard, Health Minister Reba Meagher has failed to reassure patients in NSW the problems with air-conditioning vents don’t extend beyond the Children’s ward at Royal North Shore Hospital, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 23 April 2008

ANOTHER HOSPITAL BUILDING STUFF UP: HOW MANY PATIENTS REMAIN AT RISK?

“The NSW Government continues to deliver first rate new health facilities.” Morris Iemma at the opening of the Douglas Building 15 September 2003

Following reports of yet another hospital building regulations stuff up, Health Minister Reba Meagher must reveal how many other units in the Douglas Building at Royal North Shore Hospital are susceptible to the same problem, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 23 April 2008

AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS, IEMMA SHOULD JUST GET ON WITH COSMETIC SURGERY REGULATIONS

“This is not just a moral argument. There is a health toll as well.” Morris Iemma 27 August 2006

Despite flagging increased regulation in the cosmetic surgery industry nearly two years ago, Morris Iemma has failed to take any action, instead reannouncing the same idea today, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 21 April 2008

ANOTHER AMBULANCE OFFICER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST IEMMA GOVT INACTION ON BULLYING

Yet another senior ambulance officer speaking out shows Health Minister Reba Meagher has done nothing to address ongoing bullying and harassment in the Ambulance Service, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 17 April 2008

EVEN IEMMA GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ARE TIRED OF REPEATING THEIR OWN SPIN

“The government is seriously, and you’ll go off about this, but the government seriously is about working to improve services for families in NSW.” David Campbell 2GB 17/4/08

In the wake of yet another Iemma Government bungle, this time in relation to rescue helicopter services, David Campbell articulated his own cynicism about the insincere lines Ministers are told to repeat over and over again for the media and the public, Deputy Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 17 April 2008

IEMMA GOVT MUST COME CLEAN ON RESCUE HELICOPTER TRAGEDY

Morris Iemma and Health Minister Reba Meagher must explain the 20 minute delay in getting the foreign owned and profit driven rescue helicopter service to an incident in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in which a 52-year-old man drowned last week, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 17 April 2008

ARTS FUNDING BUREAUCRACY ‘STIFLING INNOVATION’: REPORT

A review of the NSW Cultural Grants program has found bureaucratic red tape is stifling innovation within the Arts sector in this state, Shadow Minister for Arts Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 15 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER’S HOSPITAL SYSTEM: VIRTUAL WARDS, CORRIDOR PATIENTS, 103% CAPACITY

Health professionals in the Illawarra have delivered a dose of reality to Health Minister Reba Meagher, detailing extraordinary revelations to the Garling health inquiry, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 15 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER CLOSES DIALYSIS UNIT: FORCES ELDERLY PATIENTS OUT

Health Minister Reba Meagher will close the dialysis unit at Concord Hospital, forcing more than 80 elderly and infirm patients to seek treatment elsewhere, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 15 April 2008

PUBLIC LIBRARY REVIEW CONFIRMS IEMMA GOVT FUNDING CUTS

An independent review of the public library funding has confirmed the Iemma Labor Government’s cuts to resources, Shadow Minister for Arts Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 15 April 2008

NSW LIB/NATS WELCOME PROPOSAL FOR NEW DOCTOR LAWS – BUT WHY THE DELAY?

The Liberal/Nationals welcomed the Iemma Government’s moves to introduce a better system of dealing with complaints against doctors, but questioned how long it took Health Minister Reba Meagher, Health Shadow Minister Jillian Skinner said today. Sunday 13 April 2008

AFTER DEFENDING YOUNG TEEN MODELS YESTERDAY, IEMMA GOVT BACKFLIP WELCOME

After supporting the appearance of young teen models at Fashion Week yesterday, the Iemma Government’s sudden backflip on the issue is welcome, Deputy Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner said today. Saturday 12 April 2008

AMBULANCE OFFICERS STRESSED AND OVERWORKED: LEAKED DOCUMENTS

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today revealed leaked documents shows the state’s Ambulance officers are stressed and overworked.Friday 11 April 2008

ELDERLY EMERGENCY WARD UNITS: LABOR’S REANNOUNCEMENTS, REBA’S RECYCLING

Despite being Health Minister for more than a year, Reba Meagher’s only policy announcement of Medical Assessment Units has been recycled and reannounced twice before, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.Thursday 10 April 2008

PETITION TO KEEP HYDROTHERAPY POOL AT ROYAL NORTH SHORE:

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today launched a petition to keep a hydrotherapy pool at Royal North Shore Hospital.Thursday 10 April 2008

MORRIS MUST PUT PATIENTS FIRST: REBA SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO BE RESHUFFLED

"It's unlikely he will move on them. He needs their support to keep the leadership." Senior Labor MP Daily Telegraph 9/4/08

Reba Meagher should be the first Minister to be moved in Morris Iemma’s impending reshuffle, and her replacement should be a Health Minister who will actually make improvements to the hospital network, Deputy NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Wednesday 9 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER CLOSES ACCOMMODATION FOR CARERS OF SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS: BREAKS PROMISE TO FAMILIES

“Alternative arrangements have been made a Royal North Shore Hospital to replace Rotary Lodge with a mixture of on-site and nearby off-site accommodation at no extra cost to carers.” – Reba Meagher in Parliament 17 October 2007

Health Minister Reba Meagher has axed the subsidised accommodation promised to country families and carers supporting loved ones undergoing treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Tuesday 8 April 2008

NSW LIBERAL/NATIONALS WELCOME ADDITIONAL NORTH COAST HEALTH INQUIRY HEARINGS

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today welcomed the scheduling of additional public hearings on the North Coast of the Garling Health Inquiry. Tuesday 8 April 2008

WOMAN WAITS A YEAR FOR A WHEELCHAIR: REBA MEAGHER’S INCOMPETENCE HURTING FAMILIES

Reba Meagher’s continued bungling and incompetence has resulted in a 27-year-old woman having to wait more than a year for a wheelchair, resulting in further medical complications and severely impacting on her quality of life, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Monday 7 April 2008

IT IS CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS CLOGGING EMERGENCY NOT THOSE WHO BYPASS THE GP

Figures posted on the Iemma Government’s own health website confirm that it is patients with life threatening and potentially serious conditions who are clogging emergency departments, not the less serious who could be seen by a GP, according to the NSW Opposition. Sunday 6 April 2008

IEMMA GOVT FALLS SHORT OF COALITION’S EMERGENCY VEHICLE GPS PROMISES

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today welcomed news the Iemma Government has decided to adopt half of the NSW Liberal/Nationals policy to fit all emergency ambulances with GPS units, but says the roll-out should be extended to all emergency vehicles. Saturday 5th April 2008

GRAEME REEVES: LABOR MP’S FAIL TO SUPPORT LETTER, MEAGHER FAILS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION

The Iemma Government continues to drag it’s feet on Graeme Reeves, after it’s MP’s failed to show up to help a Parliamentary Committee draft a please explain letter to the HCCC, and Health Minister Reba Meagher failed to introduce legislation she announced a month ago in regards to reporting medical misconduct, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and Liberal Member for Hornsby Judy Hopwood said today. Friday 4 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER REFUSES TO NAME HOSPITALS BEING AUDITED FOR MANIPULATING DATA

Despite being asked three times in Parliament today, Health Minister Reba Meagher has refused to name those hospitals being audited for manipulating performance data, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said. Thursday 3 April 2008

REBA MEAGHER’S EMERGENCY: PLAN WON’T SOLVE PROBLEMS IN OUR HOSPITALS

Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today Reba Meagher’s plan to add another layer of bureaucracy to emergency departments in public hospitals would not improve treatment for patients. Thursday 3 April 2008

IEMMA GOVT MANIPULATING OFFICIAL HOSPITAL FIGURES: REBA MEAGHER MUST COME CLEAN

Dr Tony O’Connell, NSW Health Director of Performance Improvement responding to reports manipulation of official hospital performance figures is widespread:

“There’s no evidence that this is widespread.” – AAP 24/3/08

It is an ‘outrageous claim’ – “There’s no evidence that I have that it has happened anywhere else.” SMH 25/3/08

“It’s really quite perverse.” SMH 25/3/08

“That’s nonsense” 2GB 25/3/08

After denying the doctoring of official performance figures in public hospitals was widespread last week, Health Minister Reba Meagher should come clean and reveal exactly how many hospitals are now under investigation for manipulating performance data, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. Thursday 3 April 2008