NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner.
MERCURY SAYS
During her many years in Opposition, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner was a relentless critic of the failed Labor government's health regime.
She had every right to be, because hospital waiting lists were out of control and the health system was in crisis.
Mrs Skinner pledged to fix the system once she and her state Coalition colleagues were returned to government.
That was more than 12 months ago, but unfortunately Mrs Skinner and the government of Premier Barry O'Farrell have let us down badly.
The news that the government is going to cut almost $3 billion from the health budget is a kick in the guts and a betrayal of trust in those people who swept the Coalition into power.
Mrs Skinner says the cuts won't affect front-line services, but that's nonsense because nurses, clinicians and other staff members already do plenty of duties outside their official roles.
What the cuts will mean is fewer beds and services, longer waiting lists and, in the case of Wollongong, no end to the perennial problem of hospital bed block.
The cuts bring to an end a sorry week for the O'Farrell government, during which it has ripped close to $5 billion out of the services the people of NSW most value.
We agree with NSW Nurses and Midwives Association assistant general secretary Judith Kiejda that this is a wealthy country and it can afford to have decent health and education systems.
It's about time our elected representatives - both federal and state - kept their word and provided such services for the people who put them in their jobs.
