Hospital not to blame for funding crisis, Opposition says
The New South Wales Opposition says the State Government can not blame the administration at one of Sydney’s biggest hospitals for its current funding crisis when it has not been providing the hospital with enough money.
The former auditor-general, Bob Sendt, been appointed to help investigate St Vincent’s Hospital’s financial woes.
It has been reported the hospital has been forced to close up to 30 beds in a major surgical ward.
Health Minister John Hatzistergos says despite the Government providing a $220 million grant to the hospital each year, he does not know what is going on.
“I can’t comment on the operations of the hospital. I’m not familiar with how the hospital has been managing its patients although I have no criticism of the quality of care it has provided for the patients from where I sit,” he said.
The Opposition’s health spokeswoman, Jillian Skinner, says it is unacceptable.
“It’s really shameful that the Minister has sent in an auditor to try and suggest that somehow there’s some misuse of money,” she said.
She says the Government is trying to avoid its responsibilities.