THE NSW Government has turned its back on Albury Hospital, denying it funding to reduce its 900-plus waiting list and insisting it is Victoria’s responsibility.
Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt’s snub has left the head of Albury Wodonga Health perplexed and fuelled fears the hospital will be overlooked for future funding.
It raises more doubts about state and federal commitment to the merged health service after the Border’s bid for a regional cancer centre was rejected in April.
Millions of dollars have been handed out to regional health services across the state to cut elective surgery waiting lists in the past two months.
The NSW Opposition says freedom of information documents put Albury’s waiting list at more than 900 patients.
But under questioning from member for Albury Greg Aplin, Ms Tebbutt said Albury was not on the list and now the responsibility of the Victorian Government.
Mr Aplin said Albury residents had every right to expect a fair share of NSW funding.
“It’s not good enough for this government to set it up with minimum resources and palm it off to Victoria,” he said.
“It has a responsibility, as a NSW hospital.
“Clearly we were discriminated against.
“I would like to think that in the future money finds its way to Albury, whether that be directly or through the cross-
border merger and via the Victorians.”
The head of Albury Wodonga Health, Dr Stuart Spring, says the hospital should have been included in the hand-out.
“It is my understanding that both states would continue to enhance services at Albury and Wodonga,” he said.
“And there have been examples of where NSW Health has done that already — the funding of 10-hour nursing night shifts is just one example.
“So I find it perplexing that money to reduce waiting lists should be denied to Albury.
“I would hope that in the next financial year we will see extra funding.”
Yesterday, a spokesman for NSW Health refused to answer direct questions on the funding, pointing to the cross-border agreement and Victoria’s role in managing surgery and other services.
But he said a new agreement with the federal government was likely to increase funding to Albury Wodonga Health for planned surgery in 2010-11.
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