Greens parliamentarian Lee Rhiannon will today lodge questions in the NSW Upper House seeking answers from the Health Minister Reba Meagher on the crisis in emergency ward capacity at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
“Lee Rhiannon was in Port Macquarie on Tuesday and saw the reports on Monday’s protest by nurses at the hospital. She has responded immediately and will seek information to clarify the Governments position,” said Susie Russell, Greens candidate for Lyne.
“Even though Port Macquarie is currently without Parliamentary representation, the Greens can continue to raise issues on behalf of the electorate.
“The Minister has 35 days to respond, so we should have the answers well before the State by-election for the seat of Port Macquarie,” she said.
The questions she will ask are:
Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC to ask the Minister for Health:
1.
Are you aware that on Monday August 25 nurses employed at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital staged a protest to improve working conditions and patient safety at the hospital's emergency ward?
2.
When will the expansion plan for the emergency ward of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital be approved?
3.
How much money has the government allocated for this expansion plan?
4.
When do you anticipate that the expansion plan for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital will be finalised?
5.
Does NSW Health have an interim expansion plan for the Port Macquarie Base Hospital emergency ward?
6.
If so has the interim expansion plan been approved by NSW Health?
7.
If not, when will the interim expansion plan be considered for approval by NSW Health?
8. Have you communicated with nurses employed at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital your plans for the expansion plans and the interim expansion plans for this hospital?