HUNTER PATIENTS TO SUFFER AS LIBERAL CUTS CONTINUE
SHARON GRIERSON MP
Federal Member for Newcastle
JILL HALL MP
Federal Member for Shortland
THE HON JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Federal Member for Hunter
THE HON GREG COMBET AM MP
Federal Member for Charlton
MEDIA RELEASE
14 September 2012
Another day, another round of savage cuts from the Liberal Party.
Today’s announcement by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner confirms the O’Farrell Liberal Government will slash $3 billion dollars in funding for health in NSW.
Under these funding cuts, doctors and nurses in Hunter hospitals will be axed – leaving local families waiting longer in emergency departments and for elective surgery.
Ripping billions out of the sector will hurt public hospitals and community health centres in:
Belmont
Cessnock
Denman
Dungog
Rankin Park (John Hunter Hospital)
Kurri Kurri
Maitland
Merriwa
Murrurundi
Muswellbrook
Nelson Bay
Newcastle (Mater Hospital)
Scone
Singleton
Over 3,600 jobs will be lost – which is the equivalent of, on average, more than 16 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to be sacked from Hospitals across the State.
“The Liberals’ are continuing their attack on public services today, this time it’s doctors and nurses that face the axe,” Newcastle MP Sharon Grierson said.
“These savage cuts will hurt health services in the Hunter.”
“Less funding for public health services means longer queues in emergency departments, hospital ward and bed closures and longer waiting times for surgery,” Shortland MP Jill Hall said.
“These are deep cuts to health, and of course this comes on the back of Barry O’Farrell’s ruthless cuts to schools,” Charlton MP Greg Combet said.
“Cutting services is what Liberals do.”
“While Labor is investing record amounts in our local hospitals – Liberals are ripping it away,” Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said.
“This is a huge blow to patients and health workers in the Hunter, and it’s a sneak peek into what Tony Abbott would do if he were PM – after all, he slashed $1 billion from public hospitals when he was Health Minister.”
In contrast to the Liberals’ slash and burn approach, Labor is increasing federal hospital funding by 6.5 per cent in 2012-13, increasing each year to more than 10 per cent in 2015-16.
The Gillard Government is delivering a stronger, fairer health and aged care system by providing an additional $20 billion in funding for state and territory health services out to 2019-20.
New South Wales will be funded up to $1.06bn to improve elective surgery and emergency departments up to 2015-16, on top of growth funding to 2019-20.