Hill Spins Out on Country Health

Martin Hamilton-Smith MP

Shadow Minister for Health & Ageing
Shadow Minister for Mental Health
Shadow Minister for Substance Abuse

Hill Spins Out on Country Health

Health Minister John Hill has again missed the point on Country Health by deliberately misrepresenting the Liberal position on investment in general hospitals in Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Berri to suit his political agenda.

“Liberals have always supported investment in country hospitals and in particular in these four general hospitals. Our public statements over many years could not have been clearer” Shadow Minister for Health Martin Hamilton-Smith MP said.

“But we will not support the stripping of resources and services from smaller country hospitals to pay for it.

“In recent years country communities have been up in arms about Labor’s plans to strip funding from smaller country hospitals in regional communities. That threat still lurks in the shadows of Labor decision making.

“This week I will visit nine hospitals and health services in the South East having already visited the Riverland.

“Particular problems exist with funding for Keith and Ardrossan hospitals. In the Riverland the former Director of Nursing at the Renmark Paringa Hospital has turned whistleblower on the Minister with claims of financial mismanagement, under budgeting, fire safety and health risks and a lack of community consultation by Government.

“The Opposition has never criticised any investment in country hospitals and for the Minister to claim so suggests mischief and spin.

“Today the Borderwatch in Mount Gambier is running a story about nurses protesting at 1:15pm to raise awareness of concerns around staffing levels. The nurses claim that the hospital is “failing to meet safe staffing levels”.

“In light of these developments in Mount Gambier, in Renmark, in Keith and in Ardrossan and elsewhere in the country the Minister’s press release today makes him look very silly indeed” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.