Jillian Skinner MP Member for North Shore Deputy Liberal Leader Shadow Minister for Health Shadow Minister for Science & Medical Research Shadow Minister for the Arts

Wednesday 2 April 2008

HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE ANDERSON FAMILY HAVE TO RECOUNT THEIR ORDEAL BEFORE THE IEMMA GOVT ACTS 

More than two years after the death of 16-year-old Vanessa Anderson, her father Warren has again had to front a state government investigatory body to recount the hospital bungling that killed his daughter, Mrs Skinner said.

“How many more times will the Anderson family have to recount this horrific story before the Iemma Government moves to fix our hospitals?” Mrs Skinner asked.

“In the more than two years since Vanessa’s death, the Anderson family have been put through the initial trauma, as well as a parliamentary inquiry into Royal North Shore Hospital, a coronial inquiry and today the Special Commission of Inquiry into acute care services in NSW,” she said.

“The Anderson family continues to suffer while the Iemma Government continues to preside over a hospital system where patients are at risk of similar systemic problems that led to Vanessa’s death.

“Poor record keeping, inadequate staffing, not enough beds, poor hospital food, inexperienced staff and under resourcing all continue under the Iemma Government and Health Minister Reba Meagher

“It's heartbreaking listening to Warren Anderson give evidence time after time at inquiries, saying exactly the same thing.

“Health Minister Reba Meagher likes to tell the public that everything is different now, but there would be few clinicians and patients who would believe that given what has been provided in evidence to the Garling inquiry.”

Member for Hornsby Judy Hopwood said Health Minister Reba Meagher failed to offer any confidence she could fix the problems when asked in Parliament today.

“Reba Meagher’s performance in the house today was nothing short of pathetic,” she said.

“Given the opportunity to show contrition and empathy, the Minister simply prattled off a list of so-called ‘improvements’ to Royal North Shore Hospital instead of giving families like the Andersons any confidence that an incident like the avoidable death of their daughter Vanessa won’t happen to another family,” Mrs Hopwood said.