NSW Coalition, Labor bush healthcare plans undercosted, review claims

A senior minister has accused Labor of putting regional NSW last over a promise to hire paramedics for the bush, but the opposition has returned fire.

Costing questions have been raised about Labor’s promise to recruit 500 paramedics for the bush, after a financial review of election promises indicated a shortfall of $24m.

According to independent costings released by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), Labor has underfunded their promise to recruit 500 paramedics across rural and regional NSW.

The PBO said it was “not possible to recruit an additional 500 paramedics with the $150m funding envelope,” with a shortfall of about $24m.

The Parliamentary Budget Office said Labor’s plan to hire 500 extra rural and regional paramedics would cost $174m, $24m more than its estimated $150m. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

NCA NewsWire understands the policy was costed before the PBO commenced its costings.

Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the election promise was “underfunded and overpromised”.

“It’s there in black and white for everyone to see,” she said,

“Regional NSW will always come last under Labor.”

NSW Health said there was “limited scope” whether paramedics would be also to reduce “recurrent administrative expenses,” which would also pay for additional paramedics.

“To do so may compromise the core work of paramedics and other clinical staff and result in an unsafe and poor-quality care model at NSW Ambulance,” they said.

Regional Health Minister said Labor’s plan to hire 500 paramedics for the bush was ‘underfunded and overpromised’. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Labor quizzes Coalition’s regional health upgrade

Labor health spokesman Ryan Park pointed towards the Coalition’s Better Access to Regional Healthcare initiative, which the PBO estimated would require a combined $1.08m to fund the four-year commitment.

The package promised regional NSW residents six dialysis buses, a trial of rural virtual healthcare hubs, which would require an expansion of the current service model, plus a review in expanding patient transportation.

“Embarrassingly, the government’s own Health department has said that the Liberals and Nationals have significantly underfunded their own signature ‘Better Access to Regional Healthcare’ commitment and said its delivery timelines are unrealistic,” he said.

“This places at risk the ability of the Liberals and Nationals to deliver key health services to regional NSW.”

Labor health spokesman Ryan Health said the Coalition had also underfunded their Better Access to Regional Healthcare initiative. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

While they said it was “unlikely” the six dialysis buses would be operational by July 1, 2023, the policy was originally committed across four years to 2025-26 and did not specify when the program would be completed.

NSW Health also said the full cost of the rural virtual health care hub trial would cost $2.6m, and not the $2m costed by the Coalition.

Administration support to expand the existing service model would also cost more than the $16,000 costed, with 10 hours of work a week costing $18,326. Across four years, that would total to $483,808 in extra costs.

Originally published as NSW Coalition, Labor bush healthcare plans undercosted, review claims