Kellie Sloane
Leader of the Opposition
NSW Liberal Leader
Gurmesh Singh
NSW Nationals Leader
Shocking new independent health data shows patients in Western Sydney are suffering the longest waits for treatment since the height of the Covid pandemic.
At Westmead Hospital, the number of T2 Emergency Patients (very urgent category) starting their treatment on time has fallen to 25%, the worst result since the height of the COVID pandemic in July 2021.
The median wait time from arrival to leaving for all patients at Westmead was 7 hours and 11 minutes- the highest on record.
The Bureau of Health Information’s latest report also revealed that across the State the number of patients waiting longer than clinically recommended for surgery rose 64% compared to the quarter prior.
The data also shows that the median waiting time from arrival to leaving an Emergency Department for all patients was 3 hours and 54 minutes, the highest on record.
Opposition Leader, Kellie Sloane said our hospitals and health staff continue to face unprecedented pressures, but Labor has no plan to fix it.
“Under Chris Minns, Western Sydney hospitals are going backwards and recording their worst results on record. The Premier needs to stop with the excuses and support the Opposition’s call for an inquiry into Western Sydney health services.”
“These escalating wait times, combined with rising surgery backlogs, reflect systematic pressures that require serious, long-term solutions.”
“What is most galling about today’s data is it shows that NSW has had record presentations to our hospitals and yet we have a Labor Prime Minister in Canberra who has called on NSW to cut hospital funding and a Premier who has failed to get NSW it’s fair share of hospital funding.”
Nationals Leader, Gurmesh Singh, said today’s data reinforced what people in regional NSW already know: under Labor, they are being left behind.
“Whether it is Labor’s decision to close Wee Waa Hospital’s emergency department or the fact we’ve seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of overdue surgeries in rural hospitals this quarter, Labor is failing regional communities on health care delivery.”
“The data also showed that Coffs Harbour Hospital was experiencing an increase in ambulance ramping with the percentage of patients being transferred from paramedics to ED staff within 30 minutes falling from 89% under the Liberals and Nationals to 75% under Labor.”