Shoalhaven Health Services

Mr HATTON (South Coast) [6.8]: The support for hospitals in the Shoalhaven area is nothing short of fantastic. Three meetings held by the Illawarra Area Health Service attracted 1,200 people. As well, 250 turned out at Milton-Ulladulla in support of the hospital and 8,000 signatures have been appended to a petition. I wish to speak about the underfunding of Milton-Ulladulla Hospital and later I shall speak about health services generally in the Shoalhaven area. More beds are needed. I acknowledge recently announced improved X-ray services and provision of high intensity nursing beds through an additional $280,000 in the health budget. The level of funding to the Illawarra Area Health Service as a whole is so poor that it is not possible for that service to assist us.

The growth rate of Shoalhaven and south Shoalhaven needs to be recognised, but that growth rate cannot be translated into financial terms unless we get substantial increases in the amount of money available for general health services. The bed occupancy rate at Milton-Ulladulla Hospital is approximately 92 per cent, with 92 births recorded in the 243 days to date this budget year. The average stay is 3.3 days per patient - so the hospital is efficient. The figures are impressive statistics indeed for a 20-bed regional hospital. That hospital has not grown in proportion to the population it serves. The 24-hour accident emergency service has no resident doctor. So far this financial year 246 operations have been performed at the hospital. Some of the most complex of those operations are caesarean sections.

In addition, there are unnecessary transfers to Shoalhaven and, in turn, unnecessary transfers from Shoalhaven to Wollongong. Shoalhaven city has 25.2 per cent of the population yet receives only 17.1 per cent of the budget from the Illawarra Area Health Service. That service has deprived Shoalhaven of between $3 million and $6 million over a four-year period. The Reid-Harris report stated that 15.5 per cent of the Shoalhaven population was more than 65 years of age, compared with only 11.7 per cent of people in that category throughout the whole of the Illawarra. People, elderly people in particular, are waiting years for elective surgery such as hip and knee replacement operations.

I have written to the Minister and invited him to public meetings in Shoalhaven. I would like him to explain to residents of north Shoalhaven the Government's policies on Shoalhaven and Berry hospitals, and to explain to those in south Shoalhaven its policies on Milton hospital. I have given him dates from 21 to 25 March, from 29 March to 1 April or from 5 to 8 April, but I would be pleased to accommodate him in regard to dates so that he could come down to the electorate, have an inspection and stay there for two nights to attend two separate meetings.

I thank the doctors at Shoalhaven and Milton-Ulladulla hospitals. I thank also the interagencies in Nowra, in particular the interagencies in Milton-Ulladulla, and Tony Weldon for their interest in those hospitals. I have tried to work within the system. When the Greiner Government came to office it destroyed the Shoalhaven Area Health Service by including it in the Illawarra Area Health Service. We were told there would be greater efficiencies, less administration, and that we would be better off. We are worse off. Hospital and health services have suffered. We are worse off in terms of capital funding and recurrent funding at both hospitals. The fact is that we have been able to prove - as underlined by the Reid-Harris report - that we have been underfunded. This morning I attended a meeting in Wollongong. Without doubt there are severe problems with Port Kembla District Hospital, Wollongong Hospital and other hospitals in the area. We cannot continue to wind down hospital facilities.

Private members' statements noted.

[Mr Acting-Speaker (Mr Rixon) left the chair at 6.14 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.]