The NSW Nationals have called for an urgent independent investigation into an incident at Manning Base Hospital that left a woman in intensive care with serious facial burns after a simple non-invasive operation.
Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health Sarah Mitchell said it was unacceptable for the Minister to not answer questions about this serious incident and what caused it.
“This is typical behaviour from the Minns Labor Government. Ministers line up for media when it comes to opening projects that were planned and funded by the former government, but when it comes to taking accountability for issues on their watch, they’re all suddenly unavailable,” Mrs Mitchell.
“Regional people are sick and tired of being treated like second-class citizens by Chris Minns and Labor.”
Despite this serious incident, and staff warning the facility is so under-resourced it is becoming dangerous for patients and staff, multiple media reports suggest the Minns Labor Government is winding back a proposed upgrade of the hospital.
Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, said Manning Base Hospital is the major hospital for our region, yet our community continues to face delays, uncertainty, and growing concerns that the redevelopment will deliver less than what was originally promised.
“Chris Minns and his Ministers need to stop putting politics ahead of patients,” Mrs Thompson said.
“Winding back services while delaying the project sends the wrong message to a region that is crying out for better healthcare. Our doctors, nurses, allied health staff, and patients deserve better.
“The people of the Manning and Great Lakes deserve certainty. They deserve the full hospital redevelopment they were promised, not a scaled-back version delivered years later. It’s time for this government to get on with the job and finally deliver for our community.”
