BackTuesday, 8 August 2017
Win on SA Pathology jobs: 196 SA jobs saved
Today’s announcement by Health Minister Jack Snelling that job cuts to SA Pathology will be delayed by 12 months is indication that the Government’s reasoning was wrong all along, according to Dignity Party MP Kelly Vincent.
“In July 2015 I said that this rationalisation by government of both city and country SA Pathology services would come back to bite not only Government, but the community who depend on pathology to detect illness, promote good health, and even save lives,” says Kelly Vincent.
“And today’s announcements by the Health Minister, just seven months out from a state election, is evidence that the Government needs to quit knee jerk policy, and instead protect the workers who protect our health.
“Minister Snelling has finally realised South Australians need jobs, particularly jobs that support the health and wellbeing of our community.
“We know that up to 70 per cent of all diagnoses rely on pathologists to provide information for an accurate diagnoses and treatment, so cutting jobs could result in South Australians going undiagnosed, getting sicker, or even dying.
“More than half of South Australians will use SA Pathology services each year, so it’s an essential component of any decent health system.
“This is the second backflip from SA Health and the Health Minister in 24 hours, after they also admitted proposed cuts to hydrotherapy pools were untenable.
“Hydrotherapy is a key part of rehabilitation and ongoing therapy, and with our ageing community it beggars belief that SA Health moved to axe access to pools for many clients. There is a desperate need for more hydrotherapy facilities across the state,” said Ms Vincent.
