State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Government to fix the crisis facing the Emergency Departments at the John Hunter and Mater Hospitals instead of building new stadiums in Sydney.
Waiting times in NSW hospitals in emergency departments have blown out, with data from the Bureau of Health Information listing John Hunter Hospital as one of the worst performers.
At the John Hunter Hospital, almost 46 per cent of patients waited for more than four hours in the July to September 2017 reporting quarter, well above the state average. The Mater Hospital also had above average waiting times, with 33.9% of patients waiting longer than four hours.
Statewide, 31.6% of patients waited longer than four hours in Emergency Departments.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Patients at the John Hunter and Mater Hospitals have some of the longest waits in Emergency Departments in Australia.”
“Almost half the people who visited the Emergency Department at the John Hunter waited long than 4 hours for treatment. This is completely unacceptable.”
“These figures clearly show the health and hospital system at the John Hunter and Mater Hospitals are under enormous pressure and are just not coping.”
“Staff are telling me that they are at breaking point. There are low staffing levels, and a steep rise in patient numbers during this record flu season has left many staff feeling burnt out and exhausted.”
“But instead of investing in more staff, better access and improved conditions, this Government wants to spend more than $2 billion on stadiums.”
“The Government needs to get its priorities right, people’s health should be its focus, not stadiums.”