Victorian patients may have to wait even longer for their elective surgeries because of the Brumby Government’s failure to effectively negotiate with the Medical Scientists Association of Victoria, said Helen Shardey, Shadow Minister for Health.

Mrs Shardey met with representatives of the Medical Scientists Association of Victoria today to discuss the failure of the State Government to negotiate an agreement with vital hospital staff.

It is unacceptable that the Brumby Government continues to play with the health and welfare of Victorian patients because of their stubborn approach to negotiating with our frontline hardworking health professionals, said Mrs Shardey.

Tomorrow, members will meet and vote on the level of strike action to be taken against the Brumby Government, which will cause elective surgeries to be cancelled state-wide.

If the 2,500 strong association decides to take strike action, staffing will be limited in the following areas:

· Pathology for elective surgeries
· Perfusion for heart surgery
· Neuro-scientists for intensive care
· Psychologists for mental health patients
· Radiotherapy for cancer patients
· Blood transfusions will be restricted to emergencies only
· Pharmacists for medication distribution for patient discharge.

The association has been attempting to negotiate their new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with the government for the past five months and members are frustrated and angry that the negotiations have broken down, said Mrs Shardey.

Dedicated hardworking medical professionals who are needed to ensure Victorians receive the best possible medical treatment are being overlooked by the Brumby Government.

There is a huge wage disparity between Victoria and other states in some cases up to 20 per cent.

We are losing valuable professionals to other states because this government cannot or will not negotiate with medical staff.

This is a situation which has been repeated state-wide by Victorian nurses, mental health workers and allied health workers in the past couple of months, and which has crippled the Victorian health system.

It is unfortunate Victorian patients have to bear the brunt of the Brumby Government’s stubbornness.

Last week the Premier and the embattled Health Minister announced a blitz on elective surgery waiting lists and resources to increase elective surgery capacity, yet they have both failed to realise the importance of medical scientific staff in this equation.

The Government is sitting on an $842 million surplus and vital medical staff are being forced to walk out of hospitals and rally against a Premier who does not listen to the community.

There are 38,109 patients waiting for surgery it’s time the Brumby Government put the patients first, said Mrs Shardey.