Wednesday 15 April 2009

ROYAL NORTH SHORE WOES FURTHER EXPOSE LABOR’S HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES

Revelations a problem with the Children’s Ward at Royal North Shore Hospital has gone unfixed for a year shows how incompetent the State Labor Government is, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

The issue of a lack of fire retardant on air conditioning vents in the Children’s Ward was first raised in the press on 23 April 2008 (article attached).

“This says everything about Labor’s incompetent handling of the health portfolio and the neglect of our public hospitals,” Mrs Skinner said.

“A year after being alerted to this dangerous situation, the State Labor Government has only just got around to fixing it,” she said.

“It is as if Labor doesn’t think keeping sick children safe is a priority, and yet again demonstrates their priorities are all wrong.

“How many children have been treated in the Maternity Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital over the past year given 15,000 children go through the Emergency Department annually? Why has the Children’s Ward been closed for so long?

“It is just further proof that Labor can’t deliver anything on time – even a vital safety upgrade to keep sick children safe.

“If Labor’s incompetence on child safety wasn’t so serious it would be a joke.

“After 14 years running our hospitals, the State Labor Government has an appalling record when it comes to delivering health infrastructure.

“The $100 million Bathurst Hospital bungle and the massive cost blowout of the Royal North Shore Hospital redevelopment – which has gone from $452 million in 2002 to $950 million by 2009 – demonstrates how Labor mismanages taxpayer funds, and wastes money on their incompetent cost blowouts and time delays.

“The public have a right to know why it’s taken so long for Labor to fix their own bungle at the Royal North Shore Hospital Children’s Ward,” Mrs Skinner said.