OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT

ELECTIVE SURGERY CANCELLATIONS NOT GOOD ENOUGH - AGAIN!!

Reports coming from Port Macquarie Base Hospital that high numbers of elective surgery operations were cancelled this afternoon, once again demonstrates the desperate need for the 4th Pod to be built, Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott, said today.

"We got the Masterplan for the hospital done in 2005 and the 4th Pod was agreed upon. It is now 2008, and we are being told to wait at least another four years for consideration of funding for the project, Mr Oakeshott said.

"This is simply unacceptable. Today's cancellations of elective surgery due to bed shortages once again show exactly why this lack of funding for building works is unacceptable, said Mr Oakeshott.

"It was nothing short of a clinical miracle that a serious or tragic incident did not occur in the emergency department last winter, as the service was stretched to the absolute maximum, operating at more than double its capacity. I fear for the coming peak winter season and I dismay that the Department of Health chooses not to acknowledge our needs within the area, said Mr Oakeshott

"What is of added concern to the one million residents of the entire north coast is that the 4th Pod at Port Macquarie Base is the number one capital works project for the entire north coast. So if we're not getting a look in for this project over the coming four years, this also indicates the whole north coast is also being denied any further capital growth, said Mr Oakeshott.

14 February 2008