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110309 - Hospitals a Priority |
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Wednesday, 09 March 2011 |
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Hospitals a Priority
The coalition's pledge
to spend $300m on the State's hospitals is a welcome part of their plan.
Hospitals in Western Sydney have struggled for years to keep pace with the
demand for their varied services. Faced with the "rapidly ageing" baby boomer
demographic and a constantly increasing influx of migrants, the bed to
potential patient ratio has resulted in long waiting lists. In other words
delays; delays in medical attention for all age groups. In this day and age,
delays in medical treatment should be a thing of the past.
Parramatta has an
excellent medical precinct at Westmead with the hospital and research
facilities and Westmead is also a teaching hospital. Hospitals not only provide
medical care but they are also major contributors to the economy and in
particular the local economy. Westmead is a major employment node for all
levels of employment. Not only medical practitioners but also auxiliary staff,
administration staff, cleaners and vendors. Surrounding the hospital are medical
specialists in consulting rooms, also employing staff.
The Children's'
Medical Research Institute and the Children's Hospital are, like the Westmead Hospital,
both employers and consumers and both are fundraisers who generate income by
interaction with the community. Everyone in the local community of a hospital
is involved with a hospital in some way.
The Chamber welcomes
any investment in these key facilities for medical reasons of course but also
welcomes the flow on effect of such investment. For Parramatta, the Westmead
medical precinct is critical to the community both socially and economically
and it is to be hoped that whoever forms government after the election will
make hospitals a priority.
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