JEREMY Hanson says nurses at the Canberra Hospital have lodged an industrial dispute over unsafe staffing levels in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“This is just further evidence of a health system in crisis,” Jeremy said.

“It’s absolutely irresponsible of the Barr government to allow the staffing situation to get so bad in such a critical area like the ICU. It is however unsurprising when almost daily we continue to hear about the dire situation inside ACT Health.

“Simon Corbell’s core job as Health Minister should be to adequately staff critical areas inside the hospital. He needs to listen to the concerns of nurses and doctors because they know best what is required in terms of staffing when it comes to healthcare.

“Only last week, data revealed just 39 percent of patients classified as ‘urgent’ were seen on time at the Canberra Hospital emergency department. The situation is diabolical and ACT Health needs the government’s attention.

“This latest development in the nurses’ lodgement of an industrial dispute again demonstrates that now is the worst time for the Barr government to be squandering $1 billion on light rail.

“I want to have the best health system in the country, but we won’t get that under ACT Labor. We need a change of government to fix the health system in the ACT,” Mr Hanson concluded.