Rudd must deliver on his election commitment to fix public hospitals

June 12, 2009

Kevin Rudd must deliver on his election commitment to fix the public hospital system so that Kempsey receives the health services it deserves, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.

“During the 2007 election campaign Kevin Rudd told the Australian people the buck stopped with him on health. He specifically said, “If State Governments have not improved services by mid 2009, a Rudd Labor Government will seek to take control of all Australia’s 750 public hospitals.”

“He said unless State Government fixed the public health system he would  take responsibility for fixing our public hospital system’. He set a deadline of June 30 2009.  With less than three weeks until the deadline Kevin Rudd is walking away on that promise.

 

“Kempsey Hospital still has not received the upgrade which was detailed in the North Coast Area Health Service 2006 Masterplan.  In September last year I forwarded a copy of the Masterplan to the Federal Minister for Health Nicola Roxon.  The Masterplan mapped out a future direction for the Kempsey Hospital to be upgraded under the Federal Government’s $10 billion Health and Hospital Fund.  For too long the North Coast Area Health Service has been eroding services at Kempsey Hospital.  However, since Kevin Rudd was elected in November 2007, services levels have further deteriorated across the region.

 

“The Area Health Service is currently culling 400 jobs and is expecting staff, who are already stretched, to do more with less.  A comprehensive upgrade of Kempsey Hospital would restore the services and provide a 21^st century facility which the local community deserves. Kevin Rudd can not walk away from his commitment to the Australian people. He told us he would fix the hospital system but now he is simply turning his back on public hospitals are  which is in decay."

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