Report confirms need for local hospital boards

03 February 2009

Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell has seized on the contents of a new official report to demand the NSW Labor Government ‘swallow its pride’ and adopt the Coalition’s policy of a return to local hospital boards.

The Report on Government Services, published on 31 January paints a damning picture of the NSW hospital system.

“We discover that NSW Labor employs more than 30,000 health bureaucrats, who now outnumber nurses,” Mr Cansdell said.
(source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24981460-16382,00.html)

“No wonder the system is broke.”

“Labor needs to admit its massive army of spin doctors don’t cure any illnesses, and Labor needs to adopt the Coalition’s policy of locally accountable district hospital boards.”

Mr Cansdell cited the example of the Federal Government having to come to the party with the funds to fix the surgery and A&E wards at Grafton Base Hospital as proof the system wasn’t working.

“Another classic example of centralised decisions being made without local consultation is the withdrawal of funds by the North Coast Area Health Service for the upgrading of the A&E at Maclean District Hospital.

“Its decision to flog off much-needed hospital land to pay for the upgrade without consultation with the local community is not only underhanded and disrespectful to the community, but just shows just how desperate they are to find money.”