No inquiry, no answers - Western Sydney left behind
Mark Speakman
NSW Leader of the Opposition
Robyn Preston
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney
Kellie Sloane
Shadow Minister for Health
Chris Minns has once again turned his back on the people of Western Sydney, refusing to support an inquiry to get to the bottom of why patients continue to suffer at Blacktown and other western Sydney hospitals.
This week, more confronting stories were revealed about patient care in western Sydney hospitals. A mother was left in a filthy hospital room at Mount Druitt that hadn’t been cleaned. A man was left waiting 40 hours in the emergency department for a bed at Blacktown.
But this morning in the Legislative Council, Labor opposed the Opposition’s Notice of Motion to hold an Inquiry into Western Sydney health services.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said people in Western Sydney deserve better than a Premier who ignores their calls for improved healthcare.
“Whether it is patients waiting days in EDs, giving birth on couches, being forced to sleep on the floor, or waiting over 389 days for surgery at Westmead, people in Western Sydney deserve to know why Chris Minns won’t act.”
“Chris Minns must be afraid of the truth if he keeps refusing to support an inquiry into these hospitals,” Mr Speakman said.
Shadow Western Sydney Minister Robyn Preston said people in Western Sydney were sick of Labor's excuses and spin.
“Every time there is an issue with Western Sydney hospitals the Premier promises to do better, but the problems keep happening and there are no solutions in sight,” Ms Preston said.
Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane asked how many more stories of patients suffering does Chris Minns need to hear before he finally steps up and acts.
“Patients in Western Sydney know there is a problem because they are living it. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and an inquiry will help find answers and come up with solutions for the systemic issues Western Sydney hospitals are experiencing,” Ms Sloane said.
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