ST GEORGE Hospital was used as a backdrop for the TV cameras when Labor went on the attack over last week’s change of premier.
Opposition Leader John Robertson said that in the first term of the Coalition government a premier and three ministers had resigned, and three sitting Liberal MPs were to face a new corruption inquiry at the end of this month, with some allegations of secret slush funds.
Mr Robertson said new Premier Mike Baird, as Treasurer, was ‘‘the architect of cuts to St George Hospital that have seen waiting times blow out for surgery and in the emergency department’’.
“[New deputy Liberal leader] Gladys Berejiklian has overseen the slashing of peak-hour train services at Kogarah and Rockdale, which has angered many local commuters,’’ he said.
‘‘Sadly, things are set to
get worse for the St George region.”
But Oatley Liberal MP Mark Coure accused Mr Robertson of ‘‘telling lies’’ about St George Hospital.
Mr Coure said the St George Hospital budget for 2013-14 was increased by $12 million to $395 million.
In addition, the government was building a new $39 million emergency department and had provided $800,000 for planning on the next stage of redevelopment.
‘‘Latest data shows improved performance at St George Hospital, with 65 per cent of patients leaving the emergency department within four hours, up from a dismal 49 per cent in the dying days of the former Labor government,’’ he said.
The outlook was bright.
Has St George fared badly under this state government?
