ANOTHER PATIENT FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS IN GALLAGHER’S HEALTH SYSTEM
Allan McFarlane, who most likely has prostate cancer, has been waiting over 12 months for elective surgery that he was told should be done within a fortnight. This is the human face of a Katy Gallagher’s health system where people are waiting too long for important surgery that is causing pain and distress, Shadow Minister for Health Jeremy Hanson said today.
“Mr McFarlane’s case is yet another example of ACT Labor’s failure to provide timely access to essential medical care. It again highlights the dire situation in our health system and the continued failure of Health Minister, Katy Gallagher to address long waiting times.
“Mr McFarlane’s carer was continually sent letters asking whether Allan still needs surgery, months after being told by his doctor he needed the surgery within a fortnight. This is yet another example of a communications breakdown within ACT health as patients are failing through the cracks and getting lost in the system where they don’t know where to turn.
“ACT residents continue to experience the longest delays for elective surgery than anywhere else in Australia. According to the latest Report on Government Services, more than 10% of our elective surgery patients wait longer than a year for surgery; that is triple the Australian average.
“In relation to the plight of Mr MacFarlane and the hundreds of others waiting for urological surgery, the significant demands facing the Urology Unit at The Canberra Hospital (TCH) have not occurred overnight. Long delays and pressure on the system has grown under Ms Gallagher’s administration, yet it is only now that we are hearing of staff being hired to get through the significant backlog.
“Failing to deliver basic and essential health services whilst spending massive amounts of money on projects such as the arboretum and roadside artwork is symptomatic of a Government with misplaced priorities and which is out of touch with the needs of the community.
“Minister Gallagher needs to immediately outline her plans to deal with this unacceptable and critical situation in our health system, and take the responsibility to address ballooning elective surgery waiting lists,” Mr Hanson said today.
10 June 2010
