Jillian Skinner MPMember for North Shore |
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Monday 31 March 2008
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.
Reports reveal some cancer patients have had to endure double doses of radiation, treatments were being stopped midway through and cancer treatment waiting lists blowing out to ten weeks.
“Patients with cancer are already suffering, but having to endure this sub-standard treatment because of faulty equipment is at best insensitive, and at worst inhumane,” Mrs Skinner said.
“Cancer patients, whether they be at St George Hospital, or any other public hospital in NSW deserve the best treatment clinicians can provide,” she said.
“But in this case, the Iemma Government’s failure to invest in new equipment and properly staff existing equipment means patients are suffering unnecessarily.
“Worse news for these poor cancer patients is that there is an additional machine just sitting idle in St George Hospital for half of every day because Reba Meagher’s health department won’t provide funding for staff to operate it.
“This is just another example of Reba Meagher’s incompetence.
“First world cancer treatment requires patients are attended to within clinical timeframes, and this case demonstrates that it just isn’t happening in NSW.
“Reba Meagher should think about those families who are suffering because of this latest health bungle, and ask herself: is it acceptable to make patients suffer because of a 15-year-old malfunctioning piece of equipment?
“Cancer patients deserve the best possible care, Reba Meagher should start providing it,” Mrs Skinner said.