Labor Failing Bathurst Families: Liberal & Nationals Boards Will Represent The Community

24 November 2009

The resignation of two high profile members of Labor’s Bathurst Health Council shows how dysfunctional the body is and how the local community is not represented under the Rees Government’s failed health model, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and NSW Leader of The Nationals Andrew Stoner said today.
 
Former chair Julie Ann Maher has resigned her position on the Bathurst Health Council, stating: “The community places a certain amount of trust in us to speak on their behalf and I want to be able to do that to the fullest extent. But I feel I am unable to do this from within the health council”.

“Labor’s Area Health Services act as closed bureaucracies, constantly ignoring the community they are supposed to be serving and isolating families from their local hospital,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Under Labor’s failed model, people who are supposed to be representing their community feel they are unable to speak their mind – reinforcing the point that Labor’s Health Councils are purely for show,” she said.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals will deliver a health system that puts patients first, and re-engages demoralised medical professionals – we will break up Labor’s failed Area Health Services and replace them with smaller Health Districts with local boards.

“Our boards will enable local community representatives, as well as local medical professionals, to speak their mind and have a real say on how health services are delivered in their Health District.

“Health District Board members will be appointed on merit, following local advertisements seeking people with medical expertise, financial and risk management skills, as well as being in good standing in local communities.

“Only the NSW Liberals & Nationals will give power back to the people,” Mrs Skinner said.

NSW Leader of The Nationals Andrew Stoner said Bathurst residents were fed up with Labor’s failure to fix the State’s health system.

“Under Labor, the health system in regional NSW is broken, and it’s only getting worse,” Mr Stoner said.

“After 14 years Labor can’t fix the problems in the health system that they helped create.

“People in the Central West deserve a better health system, and the NSW Liberals & Nationals will make real change happen.

“That’s why the Liberals & Nationals have offered real solutions to Labor’s health crisis, including the introduction of District Health Boards and a commitment to pay hospital bills on time.

“These are just more examples showing the NSW Liberals & Nationals have what it takes to fix Labor’s health problems,” Mr Stoner said.