JEREMY Hanson is calling on Chief Minister Gallagher to respond to statements made to the ABC by Canberra Hospital’s Emergency Department Clinical Director, Dr Michael Hall.

In an interview with the ABC Dr Hall stated:

In relation to the Hospital’s 95 percent occupancy rate – “Ninety-five per cent is unsafe…once you reach above 90 the hospital is under stress, once you reach above 95 the hospital is seriously under stress,”.

In relation to capacity affecting waiting times in ED – “So people will be cared for in a less than satisfactory environment,”.

“So it increases time in hospital, it increases costs, it increases complications and in fact it increases mortality,”.

“This is extremely serious and shows the major problems the ED and the hospital have been coping with for a long time, problems that Canberra Liberals have been highlighting for many years while ACT Labor has failed to act,” Jeremy said.

“The Chief Minister cannot hide now. She must front up and explain these claims by Dr Hall.

“Katy Gallagher cannot ignore that Canberrans lives are being put at risk by ACT Labor’s very poor management of the health system,” Mr Hanson concluded.