ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL PATIENT CARE
Page: 2763
Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: My question is directed to the Minister for Health. Will the Minister accept that a neurosurgeon being forced personally to locate an anaesthetist and a nurse, but still denied access to an operating theatre with a resulting six-day delay in surgery for a person with a broken neck, despite the risk that a cough or a sneeze could cause paralysis, is evidence of the inadequate resources available to patients and staff at Royal North Shore Hospital?
Ms REBA MEAGHER: I will seek details relating to this case and the allegations that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition. However, I advise that, as a result of additional funding, the number of urgent cases awaiting surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital dropped from 140 patients in 2005 to 27 patients in August this year. While financial management is important, extra funding for elective surgery has resulted in the surgical long-wait list being reduced dramatically at Royal North Shore Hospital, with only 12 patients waiting for surgery longer than 12 months.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: Under Standing Order 129 my point of order relates to relevance. The Minister is talking about elective surgery. The head of the spinal unit has just said that he had to wait six days to operate on a patient who risked life paralysis.
THE SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Minister clearly said that she would seek advice and she is now providing additional information.
Ms REBA MEAGHER: I am advised that the former management at Royal North Shore Hospital closed down four neurosurgery beds due to staff shortages in 2005, but I am also advised that these were reopened in late 2005, when appropriate staff were recruited. A further two ventilator neurosurgery beds were fully funded and opened following a $1.5 million injection in the 2005-06 budget. Furthermore, Royal North Shore Hospital continues to be a centre of excellence in spinal and neurosurgery work.
THE SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.
Ms REBA MEAGHER: In neurosurgery the number of patients treated continues to grow. In 2003-04 733 people were treated and in 2004-05 848 people were treated.
THE SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.
Ms REBA MEAGHER: In 2005-06 the number continued to grow to 910, and in 2006-07 1,024 patients were treated. We continue to invest with our record budget: nearly a third of the New South Wales budget is dedicated to Health. If those opposite would like New South Wales Health to have additional funding they should by all means pick up the phone and talk to their colleagues in Canberra.