Elements of the NSW health system are "absolutely sick", according to Adam Marshall, in a parliamentary speech slamming the Hunter New England Local Health District.
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The Northern Tablelands MP has called an "emergency meeting" to discuss how to resolve what he called a "dire situation" at Inverell hospital.
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) has recently completed a $60 million upgrade of the Inverell District Hospital.
Despite the state-of-the-art facilities Mr Marshall has received three months of complaints - "a stream of complaints every single week" - about the new hospital, he told parliament this week.
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Among a number of specific incidents, he cited the case of an 83-year-old woman discharged from the hospital "when she didn't want to leave", only to collapse and return by ambulance the next day.
Mr Marshall called the system a "merry-go-round".
"I am trying to work out what the hell is going on within the structure of Hunter New England Health?" he said.
"Something is seriously crook when we have a brand-new hospital with so many complaints and so many issues with how the hospital is operating and how the hospital is run and managed.
"I have said it before, and I will say it again: What is the point of spending $60 million of taxpayers' hard-earned cash to build a brand-new hospital if it is not run properly and to the standard it should be to provide care for the community?"
He "demanded" that Hunter New England Local Health District Chief Executive Officer Michael Di Rienzo attend an "emergency meeting of NSW Health officials".
"We need to get to the bottom of this problem," he said.
"Now is the time for solutions for the Inverell community, not more excuses."
The MP complained of a shortage of visiting medical officers, doctors, an overuse of locum doctors, poor staff conduct and even "the simple non-availability of staff".
In a statement, Mr DiRienzo confirmed he would attend the emergency meeting alongside the district's Executive Director of Rural and Regional Healthcare.
HNEH will send a representative to a meeting of the New England Joint Organisation at the end of November to discuss problems with healthcare in Glen Innes with local councils.
"I would like to assure the community that Inverell Hospital is adequately staffed and provides safe and quality care," Mr DiRienzo said.
"The district is always open to feedback about our services and the care we provide to our communities."
He said HNEH is reviewing each complaint they have received, and is "committed to investigating and addressing each of them".
It's the second time in weeks the MP - who is also Minister for Agriculture - has used parliament to condemn his own region's health organisation.
In October, Mr Marshall revealed to parliament a lady had died after presenting to Glen Innes hospital without a single doctor on staff, in what he called a tragedy.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
