Barely one week into 2010 and Northern Beaches MPs have renewed calls for the Health Minister to meet with them and local doctors to discuss progressing hospital services on the Northern Beaches.
“While the New Year’s Eve fireworks are still ringing in her ears, it’s time Carmel Tebbutt make a new year’s resolution to meet with local doctors and local MPs and come clean on the Government’s plans for the new Northern Beaches hospital and continue upgrading at Mona Vale hospital,” Member for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard, said today.
“Minister Tebbutt’s been in the job since September 14, 2009 and on September 25, 2009 her Deputy Director-General wrote to me saying she couldn’t provide a date for a meeting with Northern Beaches MPs and doctors to discuss the Northern Beaches hospital.
“Slack, disinterested and incompetent are all adjectives that spring to mind in assessing State Labor’s failure to get on with improving hospital services on the Northern Beaches,” Mr Hazzard said.
Mike Baird, Member for Manly, said “Patients and medical staff have been treated arrogantly and dismissively for years on the Northern Beaches by State Labor – 2010 is the time for State Labor to wake up to itself.”
Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater, said “Mona Vale Hospital is in urgent need of upgrading and the local community deserve immediate clarification of the Government’s intentions regarding the new Northern Beaches hospital.”
Jonathan O’Dea, Member for Davidson, said “Frustration and anger are all that State Labor has given medical staff and patients on the Northern Beaches and the new year is a chance for Carmel Tebbutt to belatedly change direction – it’s time Minister Tebbutt agreed to the much-awaited meeting with MPs and medical staff!”
Mike Baird said, “At the very least the Minister should be releasing all planning documents on the hospital so that the alternative Liberal & Nationals government can accelerate the commencement of the building of the hospital after the March 2011 election if Labor fails to get underway in the interim.”
Rob Stokes said, “2010 should be the time for State Labor’s games to finish – the meeting should take place immediately and hospital services on the Northern Beaches should get the attention they deserve.”
Brad Hazzard said, “All local MPs and doctors want is for Carmel Tebbutt to meet with us, set out clearly what the Government’s intentions are and hopefully to get on with the job of building the new Northern Beaches hospital and delivering improved services at Mona Vale Hospital.”
