DOES GALLAGHER SUPPORT CALLS FOR CANBERRANS TO “STOP WHINGEING” OVER HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES?
Health Minister Katy Gallagher needs to immediately say if she agrees with the extraordinary comments from the Chief Minister, that Canberrans should “stop whingeing” about long delays in Canberra public hospitals.
During ACT Labor’s time in power hospital services have declined to the point where the ACT has some of the longest hospital waiting times in the nation, Shadow Minister for Health, Jeremy Hanson, said today.
“As Health Minister does she agree with her leader that people shouldn’t ‘whinge’ about delays in our Emergency Departments, or that wait times shouldn’t be considered an important health indicator?” Mr Hanson said.
“Does Ms Gallagher think that long waiting times for emergency treatment doesn’t have an impact on clinical outcomes?
“The ACT community have a right to be angry about continual decline in services at Canberra public hospitals and for the long waits they suffer as a result. To be told to stop whingeing about lengthy hospital delays is a shocking statement from any elected official, in particular from the head of the ACT government.
“As Deputy Leader and Health Minister, Katy Gallagher needs say whether this is the Government’s approach to Health in the ACT – Don’t address the problems, just tell people to stop whinging.
“Jon Stanhope is out of touch if these are the comments he is making. He must retract his comments and apologise for his appalling disregard for the pain and suffering experienced by many Canberrans as they wait unacceptably long times for treatment.
“It is now clear that ACT Labor has all but given up on any notion of improving access to health services, instead they are telling the community to be quiet and bear with it,” Mr Hanson concluded.
5 March 2010
