Doctor slams cuts to elective surgery at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals
Head surgeons at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals have hit out at plans by the local health district to cut elective surgeries by 400 sessions next year.
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An outraged surgeon has slammed plans to cut elective surgery at Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals in an open letter to state politicians.
Dr Richard Hanney has spoken out against a proposal to reduce elective surgical services across the Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD) by more than 400 sessions next year due to budget constraints.
Patients waiting for hip and knee replacements, and procedures concerning the gallbladder, liver, stomach, appendix and breasts, would bear the brunt of the cuts.
In a letter addressed to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Dr Hanney said the plans would only widen the gap between the rich and poor.
“Public patients waiting for joint replacements in Central Sydney wait three months, in Western Sydney they wait fourteen months,” Dr Hanney wrote.
“If there is a commitment to equitable distribution of public health resources in NSW Health … why are the services to be reduced where the community is already the most disadvantaged?
“(The) reported direction represents a consistent abuse of a disadvantaged community by the Western Sydney LHD.”
The letter comes in response to an email sent out to staff from the hospitals’ head of surgery Dr Fred Betros advising of the proposed cuts.
In the email, Dr Betros said he did not support the changes.
“I have no doubt that if such changes are introduced, many patients will experience significant breaches in waiting times … we have made this clear to administration … despite this, a decision has been made to reduce activity,” Dr Betros said in the email.
“If this is to be introduced, the LHD and individual hospital administrators need to take responsibility for this.”
Health district chief executive Graeme Loy said the district was working closely with staff in the rollout of the $700 million expansion project at both hospitals and praised staff efforts.
“Over the last 12 months, Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals have continued to achieve a high level of performance in elective surgery.
“100 per cent of patients at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals have had their elective surgery on time.
““I thank and congratulate our surgical teams across Western Sydney Local Health District for their hard work that has led to this strong performance.
”The $700 million Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals expansion project will continue to reap benefits for patients across the district.”
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay was joined by Mt Druitt and Blacktown state Labor MPs Edmond Atalla and Stephen Bali took to the steps of Parliament House this morning condemning the plans.
The issue boiled over in Question Time this afternoon, with Ms McKay and all Labor MPs walking out of parliament after questions about the plans were put to Mr Hazzard.
“What a disgrace, cuts to elective surgery procedures for people in pain are never a laughing matter and the Minister was refusing to answer the question,” Ms McKay said.
“I will always stand up for the people of western Sydney.
“Elective surgery is essential surgery. It is needed by people, often our senior citizens, who are living in terrible pain.
“How could the Berejiklian Government be cutting surgeries to some of the most disadvantaged people in the community? This is cruel and it is heartless and I implore the Premier to reverse these cuts immediately.”
Mr Atalla said the planned cuts were “gut-wrenching”.
“We represent some of the fastest-growing areas and some of the most disadvantaged communities in Sydney.
“We fight so hard for health funding and simply cannot afford cuts to essential surgery. We’re not asking for special treatment — just to be respected the same way as other parts of the city.”