NSW LABOR BOWS TO LIB/NATS PRESSURE FOR FORBES DIALYSIS FUNDING

16 February 2010

NSW LABOR BOWS TO LIB/NATS PRESSURE FOR FORBES DIALYSIS FUNDING

The devil will be in the detail of the NSW Labor Government’s announcement of funding for the Forbes dialysis unit, NSW Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.

In a visit to Forbes today, Jillian Skinner and Duncan Gay met with staff at the Forbes Hospital and local dialysis patients who are forced to travel to Orange for dialysis.

“I’m calling for a guarantee from NSW Labor that this funding will be available today, and not merely in the pipeline for further down the track,” said Mrs Skinner.

“It took two years of constant pressure from myself and the local community for NSW Labor to deliver on its promise of additional dialysis chairs for Forbes early last year.

“Here I am in Forbes again and NSW Labor suddenly finds part of the funding the NSW Liberals and Nationals have long been calling for. If it means the people of Forbes spontaneously get a funding announcement each time I plan a trip here, I’m more than happy to come more often.

“From what local dialysis patients have told me, this announcement still means around four Forbes patients will still have to travel to Orange for dialysis.

“It’s absolutely ludicrous that people like Ross Quirk who I met with today, have to get in the car and directly bypass their local hospital and drive 115km to Orange 3 times each week to obtain dialysis treatment.

“That’s almost 700km every week, and up to 1000km per week for those living as far as Condobolin. This is the last thing patient’s who are already emotionally and physically strained need.

“The fact that for the past 12 months NSW Labor has been happy for dialysis patients to continue travelling long distances on top of the emotional strain of dialysis is outrageous,” said Mrs Skinner.

Mr Gay said he has long been putting pressure on NSW Labor in and outside of Parliament in a bid to gain answers for patients who have been completely in the dark.

“I lodged an FOI request with the Greater Western Area Health Service in November last year to try and get some information,” said Mr Gay.

“GWAHS quoted almost $1,200 for what would usually be a $30 FOI request. It clearly shows NSW Labor has something to hide.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals will be keeping a close eye to make sure local dialysis patients see this funding immediately,” said Mr Gay.