NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord has called Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s review into the privatisation of Griffith Base Hospital’s sterilisation unit a “charade" and “cruel hoax”.
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Earlier in the month, Minister Hazzard called for a “full briefing” on the controversial decision to close the public hospital’s Central Sterilising Supply Department and outsource the service to St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Mr Secord highlighted St Vincent’s spokesperson David Fakor’s confidence that the “commercially viable” outsourcing agreement would be finalised with the NSW Government by the end of the year.
Minister Hazzard described Mr Secord’s comments as “total coddswallop”, and said the review is still ongoing but a decision has not been reached.
Minister Hazzard said the decision was like Sophie’s Choice, a reference to a movie where a mother had to choose which one of her two children would be killed by the Nazis.
“I spoke to some members of the community… [and] they were encouraging me to do whatever is necessary to keep St Vincent's viable. On the other hand, my primary job – most of the time, anyways – is to keep our government hospitals doing what they need to do. So, it's difficult. It's a difficult challenge”.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers candidate for Murray Helen Dalton said Minister Hazzard’s needs to “man up, face the issue and make a decision.”
“The fact that Brad Hazzard said he was coming to Griffith to talk about the sterilisation unit at Griffith Base Hospital but just hasn’t turned up, means that he is avoiding the issue,” Ms Dalton said.
Minister Hazzard said he had planned to come to Griffith on Tuesday however was diverted by a crisis, but said he expects to visit Griffith again soon.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District, who made the outsourcing decision, was approached but declined to comment.