05 July 2012

NSW Government Delivering Better Frontline Health Services

The Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, has today thanked NSW hospital staff for their tireless work to enhance frontline services that has led to improved elective surgery and emergency department performance.

Minister Skinner said that contrary to Opposition scaremongering, the NSW health system is performing strongly, thanks to the hard work of staff and greater investment in frontline services.

“Patient care is our number one priority and that is why we have recruited an additional 2500 more nurses into our health system since the election,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Before the election we promised to do 13,000 additional elective surgery procedures, and last year we did 4,500, with extra funding provided this year to increase the number again.

“We also committed to focus on ensuring elective surgery patients were treated within times their doctors considered clinically appropriate to the urgency of their condition, and we have achieved a record 92 per cent on time treatment.

“Far from struggling, our nurses, doctors, allied health staff and paramedics are delivering some of the best health care in the world.

“The Federal Government’s Institute of Health and Welfare recently reported that NSW had outperformed all states and territories in treating patients presenting to emergency departments within recommended times.

“We are doing more for patients by delivering on our promise to improve frontline health services.”