GALLAGHER REFUSES TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM STANHOPE’S ‘STOP WHINGEING’ COMMENTS
Reports in the media today of a mother’s distress caused by her young child being forced to wait more than a year for important surgery, contrasts sharply with Jon Stanhope’s callous call for parents to ‘stop whingeing’ about long delays in our health system.
Katy Gallagher’s continued refusal to distance herself from Jon Stanhope’s unsympathetic comments provides no reassurance to Canberra parents that the Minister believes long waiting times should be a priority of ACT Labor, Shadow Minister for Health, Jeremy Hanson, said today.
“Ms Gallagher has remained silent on this issue, indicating she agrees that parents should ‘stop whingeing’ about Canberra’s long waiting times for surgery and for treatment in our Emergency Departments,” Mr Hanson said.
“After eight years of declining health indicators including elective surgery waiting times and Emergency Department waiting times, it would appear ACT Labor has all but given up on improving access to health services. Canberrans are just expected to bear intolerable delays under ACT Labor.
“Long delays for treatment will have a detrimental impact on health outcomes. To be told to ‘stop whingeing’ demonstrates the apathy Ms Gallagher and Mr Stanhope have for addressing the health crisis in the ACT.
“Ms Gallagher’s response in this reported case - to blame someone else instead of looking for a resolution - is typical of the broader response we have seen from this Minister with ongoing problems in our health system.
“Timely access to health services is something that Canberrans should expect. Instead, under ACT Labor, the ACT has some of the worst wait times for emergency treatment and elective surgery in the nation.
“I again urge the Health Minister to distance herself from these deplorable comments from Jon Stanhope. Ms Gallagher’s silence and lack of action on this issue should be a wake up call for all Canberrans,” Mr Hanson concluded.
15 March 2010
