New South Wales Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird

MUMS DEPRIVED OF OXYGEN AT MANLY HOSPITAL: DOCTORS AND NURSES NEED SUPPORT

Victor P Taffa

Local mums about to give birth were turned away from Manly Hospital on the weekend, after the medical air system that supplies oxygen for caesarean births broke down, Manly MP Mike Baird said.

“I received a call from an anxious mum on Monday morning who couldn’t believe it when the machine that supplied oxygen for her daughter’s caesarean delivery failed and couldn’t be replaced.” Mr. Baird said.

“It is beyond words that several expectant mums had to be transferred to Royal North Shore at the last minute, because Manly Hospital couldn’t supply oxygen for their deliveries.”

“There’s no doubt that patients, doctors and nurses are suffering as the State Labor Government runs Manly Hospital into the ground.”

“How can a hospital operate when basic supplies like oxygen are not available to patients?” Mr. Baird asked.

“Time and again I hear how incredible the nurses and doctors are at Manly Hospital and how challenging it is to care for patients due to constant cost cutting.”

“Manly Hospital has operated under a cloud for too long, as the NSW Government fails to deliver on its promise to build a new Northern Beaches Hospital.”

“Back in 2006 the doctors and nurses at Manly and Mona Vale Hospitals wrote to the then Health Minister saying they were excited about the new hospital and the high standard of care it would offer patients.”

“Four years later not a sod has been turned and meanwhile Manly and Mona Vale Hospitals are being starved of resources.”

“We have made a commitment that the new Northern Beaches Hospital will be built, should we be elected next year.” Mr. Baird said.

“Local mums-to-be deserve the peace of mind of knowing that if they are booked into Manly Hospital, that is where they’ll deliver their baby.”

Given the announcement by the Rudd Government over hospital funding cutbacks a new Northern Beaches Hospital can’t come soon enough.