Gosford Central Community News
January 17, 2011
Your independent local newspaper
Super Clinic to relieve stress on Gosford Hospital
Issue 003
Climate group hosts election forum limate Action Central Coast is hosting an election forum on climate change for the State Candidates for Gosford on Wednesday, February 9, at the Gosford Uniting Church Hall from 7pm to 9pm.
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The entrance to Gosford hospital
ember for Robertson Ms Deborah O’Neill said she is working hard to get the GP Super Clinic up and running after figures on the MyHopsitals website show that Gosford Hopsital patients are waiting longer than the national average in a number of categories for emergency treatment and elective surgery.
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Ms O’Neill has welcomed the launch of the Federal Government’s MyHospitals website, saying it confirms how vital it is for both the State and Federal Government to work together in regional health. “Emergency waiting times are all above the national average but close to the mark in most categories,” said Ms O’Neill. “MyHospitals shows that there have been strong improvements in the emergency departments on the previous year, particularly in patients receiving treatment in less than one hour. “The percentage of
patients in these categories improved by 11 per cent to 15 per cent.” “Gosford’s performance in emergency was slightly better than Wollongong, a similar sized regional hospital.” “The figures also show Gosford had more than double the number of nonurgent presentations to emergency as Wollongong. “That reinforces to me the need to get our GP Super Clinic for the southern Central Coast up and running as soon as possible to help take the pressure off the Gosford Emergency Department.” “The recent grant of
$100,000 to the Bridges GP After Hours Service at Erina is one practical example of how the Federal Government is working to secure afterhours access to a doctor for Central Coast residents when they need it,” said Ms O’Neill. Elective surgery records show that patients at Gosford face the longest waits for ear, nose and throat surgery, an average of 254 days, which is four times the national average. “That’s marginally longer than Wollongong hospital,” said Ms O’Neill. “The median waiting time for eye surgery at Gosford is also double the national
average, although the waiting times for vascular and urological surgery are below.” Ms O’Neill said the figures clearly showed that a combined effort was needed to reach the national average in a number of areas, and has called for all candidates at the March State Election to commit to sticking with the Federal Government’s health reform plan. “Health authorities on the Central Coast acknowledge that Labor’s new case-mix funding system will see our local hospitals get a fairer share of national funding,” said Ms O’Neill.
NSW State Election candidates Chris Holstein, Katie Smith and Peter Freewater will answer a number of questions about climate change. Guest speaker will be Founder and Executive Director Beyond Zero Emissions, Mr Matthew Wright who was the the recipient of the 2010 Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year award. Spokesperson for Climate Action Central Coast, Ms Mira Wroblewski said, “There has been too much hot air on the issue of climate change. “We want our political representatives to commit to real action.
“Australia’s main contribution to global warming is our use of fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil for energy. “We are the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters per head of population. “We would like our candidates to commit to a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energies,” she said. “This is an issue that is directly affecting the lives and homes of Australians. We invite local people from all electorates to come and have their say.” Media Release, 12 Jan 2011 Mira Wroblewski CACC
Media Release, 13 Dec 2010 Matt Pulford, Office of Deborah O’Neill
Guest speaker, Mr Matthew Wright