Start the Change

Following the signing of the health reform agreement on 20 April 2010, NSW Labor Premier Kristina Keneally promised that "NSW will see improvements to our hospitals and health services straight away."

Kristina Keneally promised that from 1 July this year we will see more money flow into our hospitals and health services. She promised that we will see waiting times in Emergency Departments come down to 4 hours. She promised at least 500 more beds in hospitals and better access to elective surgery.  She promised to consult the community about local health networks.

The Keneally Labor Government has a record of failure when it comes to delivering on promises. So, as a result of the health reform agreement signed on 20 April 2010, what's changed at your hospital and health service?

Earlier today, I twittered with Barry O'Farrell regarding my issues for NSW. Given I only have 140 letters to express this, I mentioned:

1. Traffic & Resource Infrastructure
2. Government Land Release
3. Health (Mental Care & Hospitals)

Of course, the Liberal NSW Leader agreed, and directed me to a website of his - "startthechange.com.au"

I checked it out.

The Liberal/Nationals have 5 Top Priorities, but from the policies listed, I have commented on those I feel are more pressing.

Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt must explain why Easter staff cuts resulted in an operation to insert a feeding tube being delayed for eight days, Deputy NSW Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

It was revealed in the Daily Telegraph that 83-year-old Max Miller went without food for eight days at Royal North Shore Hospital while waiting for a procedure to insert a feeding tube.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals have faith in local communities, and believe they should be involved in making the decisions that affect their area and future.

In government we will empower local communities by giving them better information and genuine data about local health services, and let them have a real say in the public health system that is there to serve them.

We will decentralise clinical decision-making, support the role of medical practitioners, nurses, and other health care professionals, empower hospital managers and provide a structure for significant community involvement.

As detailed in the NSW Liberals & Nationals ‘Making It Work’ health policy, we will:

• - replace Labor’s huge and out-of-touch Area Health Services with smaller Health Districts;
• - appoint Boards to the Health Districts and make them accountable to the communities they serve;
• - restore the decision-making power of Hospital General Managers and give authority back to expert clinicians;
• - further develop clinical networks that link medical experts across the system;
• - appoint a qualified medical practitioner as Executive Clinical Director in each Health District; and
• -  publish information about health service management including Budget allocations, the capacity of an institution to undertake treatments and patient care outcomes through an independent Information Bureau.

There is consensus between most health stakeholders, including the Federal Government, that the NSW health system needs a flatter and more locally focused management structure that better utilises the expertise of medical practitioners, nurses and other health care professionals.

Only a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will restore confidence in the public health system, re-engaging medical practitioners and once again give local communities a strong and direct voice in local patient care.

The half-hearted lip service being paid to NSW clinicians by the State Labor Government shows Kristina Keneally and Carmel Tebbutt have no intention of changing the health system, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today. “I remain very disappointed that clinicians who want to provide input into this process have been locked out by the hand-picking of delegates,” Mrs Skinner said.