In a media release Member for Bega Andrew Constance today called on Labor’s Shadow Health Minister to resign for his attack on local doctors, nurses and health staff at the South East Regional Hospital.
“It’s disgusting that Mr Secord is claiming that the South East Hospital is one of the worst in the state and that their local Labor candidate is claiming patients are ‘suffering’.
“It is an outrageous slur against the professionalism of the nurses, doctors and health staff who are working tirelessly to deliver for the community,” Mr Constance said.
“The NSW Liberals funded and built the new hospital with the Commonwealth Government and it’s the Liberals who will support and stand up for the staff against despicable political attacks by Labor’s health spokesperson Walt Secord and their unknown Labor candidate.
“To try and make political advantage against the closure of a private hospital in Bega, where staff and patients face uncertainty is just sick – talk about political desperation.
“Labor is so out of line, that the HSU Secretary, Gerard Hayes is in full support of the LHD’s actions that have been taken following the closure of the Bega Valley Private Hospital.
I want to thank personally the union leader Mr Hayes for putting local patients and staff first,” Mr Constance said.
In a recent statement Mr Hayes stated:
“HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes today said all workers at the Bega Private Hospital would be placed immediately on the casual list for work at the South East Regional Hospital.
“As soon as we found out about the impending closure of the Bega Private Hospital, the HSU contacted the Southern LHD to see what could be done.
“The CEO of the Southern LHD, Andrew Newton, immediately stepped in to offer assistance to patients and staff affected by the closure.”
“I commend Andrew Newton and the HSU Secretary for stepping up for the good of patients and staff affected by this closure and working together to achieve a positive outcome, and it’s a shame they are having to spend their valuable time fending off political attacks from the Labor Party.
“The Bega Valley Private Hospital was a day surgery facility, so any patients transferring over are not expected to place strain on the public health system.
“While we are supporting our fantastic local staff and patients, all Labor can do is again scaremonger our community with false claims and lies.”
