Port Macquarie Base Hospital: Leaked Document Confirms Front Line Job Cuts

08 April 2009

A leaked document to the NSW Nationals’ shows that approximately 20 full time nursing jobs may be cut from Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Duty Member for Port Macquarie Melinda Pavey said today.

Whilst the NSW Labor Government said that no front-line jobs would be cut from the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS), the leaked document confirms that there may be cuts from the Maternity Ward, Emergency Department, Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Acute Surgical, Operating Theatre and Surgical Short Stay.

“Nathan Rees’ promise in Labor’s mini-budget that they would protect frontline services has now been proven a lie,” Mrs Pavey said.

“It is absolutely shocking that the Labor Government is cutting vital health resources to a dangerous level, whilst at the same time proposing to spend $1 billion on an internal renovation of the Sydney Opera House.

“Nathan Rees’ decision to prioritise the arts over saving peoples lives must be condemned.

“The Labor Governments plan to cut resources from the Emergency Department is simply unthinkable, considering it already operates at twice the capacity it was built for.

“This decision comes as a shock as the recently released Garling Report explained how patients surgery is regularly cancelled due to ‘bed block, lack of intensive care beds, and an increasing volume of emergency cases’.

“I have spoken to nurses who are not being paid overtime anymore, and are regularly working almost one hour extra per shift to cover the transition period.

“These nurses are working unpaid simply out of the goodness of their heart, and in return, the Labor Government is planning on sacking them,” Mrs Pavey said.

Last week in Parliament Mr Besseling voted with the Government on a Motion that sought to congratulate the Government on their response to the Garling Report.

“Why Mr Besseling would vote with the Government on this is inconceivable, considering within 134 of the Garling Report recommendations the small print reveals that 55 of them have strings attached including further reviews and delays. 

“The Premier’s visit to Port Macquarie that same week may have been catalyst for Mr Besseling’s decision to align with the Government. It’s about time someone stood up for the people of Port Macquarie, and gave them the resources and support they deserve,” Mrs Pavey said.