A NSW Upper House inquiry into health services in outer South Western Sydney has confirmed that underfunding is real and not just a cynical political catchcry of the opposition.
The inquiry, for example, noted that ultrasounds at Campbelltown Hospital could not be performed after 4pm on weekdays due to a lack of funding.
Released today, the inquiry’s findings were scathing of the government’s “historic underfunding” of South Western Sydney Health Services, particularly those in Campbelltown.
Recommendation 11 stated that NSW Health address the following issues at Campbelltown Hospital:
- Immediately fill the vacant positions within the Emergency Department
- Immediately fill the vacant position that exists for a full-time psychologist for the adolescent (Birunji) mental health unit
- Immediately fill the vacant midwife positions
- Examine the proposal of establishing paediatric surgery and other paediatric subspecialties at the hospital.
The findings also noted a raft of other concerns.
Macarthur residents were forced to travel long distances to other hospitals for “core’’ services not offered at Campbelltown Hospital, according to the inquiry.
The funding as part of Campbelltown Hospital upgrades did not redress the historical bias of funding towards central, north and eastern parts of Greater Sydney.
The government was not forthcoming with funding needed to extend operating hours of chemotherapy treatment at the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre.
The lack of equipment and services affected not just patients with rare conditions, but also the diagnosis and treatment of common, serious health conditions.
“This confirms what we have known for years – the government has unfunded our hospital and placed the wellbeing of all Campbelltown and Macarthur residents in serious jeopardy,” says Campbelltown MP Greg Warren.
“I have repeatedly said upgrading the hospital would be useless unless the adequate support, resources and staffing levels were provided and funded – and this inquiry supports my views.
“I am absolutely appalled that the NSW Liberals have treated Campbelltown and residents in the wider Macarthur region with such contempt for so long and played politics with our health and wellbeing.”
NSW Labor are now demanding the Berejiklian Government immediately adopt the recommendations stemming from the inquiry.
“The findings from this inquiry are as serious as they come,” says shadow minister for health Ryan Park.
“The government has deliberately underfunded Campbelltown Hospital and the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre and allowed the local health system to fall to pieces.
“It beggars belief that the NSW Liberals allowed the situation in Campbelltown to deteriorate to such a level.”
