Tuesday 8 April 2008

North Coast Area Health Service 'extreme' cost-cutting

It seems every time I turn around North Coast Area Health Service is doing something which either horrifies, troubles or, in this case, simply grates a nerve.
 
The Northern Star carried this report yesterday.
 
Dr Pezzutti's comments come as staff at Ballina Hospital complained of extreme cost-cutting measures by the area health service.
One staff member, who asked not to be identified, said the health service had replaced sanitary bins in the women's toilets with brown paper bags as a cost-cutting measure. A few years ago the service got rid of the hospital's water cooler, also to save money.
A spokesman for the health service confirmed sanitary bins were being removed from all health service facilities because sanitary waste was regarded as general waste and, therefore, best deposited into waste bins to minimise potential contact with body fluids.
The spokesman confirmed the move involved 'potential cost savings that could be directed into clinical care', but declined to say how much money would be saved or what clinical services the funding would be directed to.

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