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

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.

“When it comes to solving the problems in our emergency departments, the Health Minister is clearly struggling,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Reba Meagher’s plan will duplicate the emergency department,” she said.

“Where does she expect to get the extra staff given she can’t even properly fill current emergency department vacancies?

“This plan is all about shuffling patients across the corridor to a different facility to try and improve the emergency waiting time figures, which as we’ve seen today, are being manipulated by the Iemma Government.

“The Iemma Government wants to add another layer of bureaucracy to an already top-heavy health system.

“Instead of one emergency department, there would be three.

“This is a shocking duplication of effort when Health Minister Reba Meagher should be focusing on fixing our existing emergency departments by giving them adequate staff and resources.

“This plan creates a two tiered system of treatment within the public hospital network where people without private health insurance are discriminated against.

“Instead of creating more bureaucracy, Health Minister Reba Meagher should be fixing the existing problems in our hospital emergency departments,” Mrs Skinner said.