By Therese Mackay
PORT MACQUARIE — The Hospital Action Group (HAG) held a meeting on February 24 to inform the people of the Hastings Valley of the implications of the services agreement signed between the Health Administration Corporation and Mayne Nickless as part of privatisation of our hospital. The meeting drew about 600 people.
Wayne Richards, president of the HAG, pointed out that the contract was signed on December 13, before John Hatton's private member's bill was heard, even though Premier Fahey promised the contract would not be signed until the bill was debated in parliament.
At a referendum in the Hastings in September, more than 61% of the people said that they did not want their hospital privatised. Our local member, Wendy Machin, from the Nationals, has ignored this and has arrogantly promoted the cause of the private for profit hospital.
Richards explained that this new private hospital would create a monopoly of health care in this large area. The already existing private hospital is also owned by Mayne Nickless.
The contract makes it very clear that the old public hospital (only 40 years) is not to be used for any health care facility. The government intends selling this hospital, which could be refurbished and expanded if only it had the will to do so. The people of this area will have to front up to the Mayne Nickless hospital for all medical care.
Brian Howe, the federal health minister, spoke on Medicare and the implications if Hewson was elected and eroded the universal health care system.
Professor Stuart Rees, professor of social work at the University of Sydney, spoke on the simplicity of the Medicare system and queried the alleged benefits of private hospitals as opposed to the public system. He said that the US system is cruel and unfair.
Pat Staunton, president of the NSW Nurses Federation, said the provision of health care is the social responsibility of government. She spoke about losing our right to choose, and the effect of the monopoly on patients and hospital staff.
Dr Liebhold from the Doctors Reform Society said that people all over Australia were watching what was happening in Port Macquarie. He spoke of the greed of some doctors and said that there would be two classes of patient. He cautioned against the rising consumerism in medicine.
Dr Andrew Refshauge spoke to Hatton's bill, which should come up when parliament resumes. He described the censure motion Hatton is about to bring against health minister Ron Philipps.
A motion was passed calling on the meeting to write to Peter Macdonald and call on him to support Hatton's bill. (Macdonald changed his mind last year and supported privatisation of the hospital.)
When Hatton's motion comes up, around March 9 or 10, residents will be demonstrating outside Parliament House and hope others will support them.