LABOR’S KILLER MINI-BUDGET WILL BE DEADLY ON THE NORTH COAST

27 November 2008

Leader of The Nationals Andrew Stoner today said that lives would be lost on the North Coast due to Nathan Rees’ disastrous mini-budget cuts.

The Daily Telegraph has today reported up to 400 full-time jobs will be slashed across the state’s North Coast hospitals as a result of the Government’s budget cuts. The cuts are said to be widespread and may affect nurses, cleaners and management.[1]

This comes on top of the $330 million slashed from the Pacific Highway for vital upgrades.

“Nathan Rees must be under no illusion that his cuts to the North Coast will result in lives being lost,“ Mr Stoner said.

“The way the State Labor Government has treated the North Coast is an absolute disgrace and will result in people dying in our hospitals and on our roads.

“North Coast hospitals simply can’t sustain 400 job losses. This move by State Labor will impact on patient safety.

“Already the North Coast Area Health Service budget is nearly $60 million per annum less than what it should be under the State Government’s own resource distribution formula.

“This is despite the growing and ageing population on the North Coast and bed occupancy close to 100 per cent across the entire region.

“Emergency departments are clogged and elective surgery waiting times are among the worst in the State. Already health outcomes are affected by underfunding.

“Last year a Tweed man died in an ambulance on his way to a Queensland hospital after he was turned away from Tweed Heads Base Hospital after a heart attack.

“A mobile breast screening service was axed from Nambucca Valley which is likely to result in breast cancer going undetected in some women.

“The Pacific Highway funding cut of $330 million means upgrades to notorious black spots like Banora Point and Tintenbar/Ewingsdale are delayed by up to four years.

“The result will be continuing accidents and loss of life.

“Once again Nathan Rees has been loose with the truth. He claimed no frontline services would be affected by his savage mini budget but the price for his bad decisions will be paid in human lives,“ Mr Stoner said.
[1] Daily Telegraph, Up to 400 jobs to be slashed across NSW hospitals: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24687822-5006009,00.html