Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health May 29th 2014

Claims by Labor’s Rebecca White that the Liberal Government is planning to close regional hospitals are wrong, alarmist and irresponsible.

During the State election, the Liberals recognised that rural hospitals were the lifeblood of communities, and play a critical role in the structure of our health system.

We committed to continuing our rural hospital services and this commitment has not changed.

We promised to work with local communities to ensure our rural hospital facilities and the health services  provided from them met the community needs in each area. That commitment  has not changed.

In Parliament this week, we proudly reiterated those commitments.

It was Labor in Government that attempted to close or downgrade rural hospitals, including Rosebery and Ouse.

At a time when major reform and new thinking is required to deal with the health mess we have inherited, Ms White’s desperate scare is a very disappointing and pathetic contribution.