NSW Labor has called on the Berejiklian Government to resolve the long-running crisis over paediatric cardiac services at the Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH) in Randwick- saying doctors fear that patient safety is at risk.
NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord said the State Government had to immediately respond to concerns expressed by the SCH staff medical council.
The Senior Medical Staff Council is set to vote on a motion of no-confidence over the lack of resources in the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network board, which was merged by the Liberal-National State Government in 2012.
Mr Secord was responding to a report in the Daily Telegraph – Page 7 -Hospital Pact in critical condition.
“Sadly, the Berejiklian Government has the wrong priorities. They prefer to splurge billions on stadiums rather than invest in health services for the most vulnerable in the community – babies,” Mr Secord said.
“Unfortunately, it is another day and it is another crisis within the health and hospital system.
“This is an extraordinary step to be taken by doctors at SCH in Randwick. It shows that their frustration has reached boiling point. Doctors do not take these steps lightly.
“It is wrong that the Berejiklian Government is forcing doctors in Sydney’s east and Sydney’s west to fight each other for resources.”
In late-November, the hospital issued a public petition signed by senior staff at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick concerned about paediatric cardiac services there.
The medical staff have also written and signed an open letter to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on children’s cardiac services at SCH at Randwick.
The medical staff are upset about a “running down” of children’s cardiac services at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
