Dominic Perrottet denies seeking “special favours” when he called the health minister after his wife had waited “too long” for an ambulance.
- NSW Premier questioned over ambulance call
- He called the minister while his wife was waiting for the ambulance
- Dominic Perrottet says there were no favors
Dominic Perrottet has denied calling Health Minister Brad Hazzard for a quicker ambulance response for his ailing wife.
The NSW Premier was questioned on Sky News over a call he made to Mr Hazzard and ambulance commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan which resulted in an ambulance being dispatched to his home.
Perrottet said he was not seeking special treatment and does not know if the commissioner personally ordered an ambulance for his wife Helen to avoid long wait times.
“My wife was ill at the time and was paralyzed in bed and I actually spoke to Brad Hazzard about that matter and an ambulance was arranged in the normal course,” Perrottet said.
The prime minister said he was returning from an event at the time he called Mr Hazzard.
An ambulance was called for Mr Perrottet’s wife, Helen (pictured front left), who was lying paralyzed in bed.
I spoke to Brad to get his advice regarding the situation. Actually, Brad was pretty random with the ambulance chief at the time,” he said.
‘Do you understand that most people in NSW would not have access to call the Minister of Health or the Ambulance Commissioner when they need an ambulance?’ lobbied the prime minister.
‘My one-year-old son almost lost his mother because an ambulance took two hours to arrive and you managed to get the Commissioner of Ambulances and the Minister of Health to arrange an ambulance for your house.’
Asked why he would call the health minister for advice about his ailing wife instead of a doctor, Perrottet replied that he is “very close” to Hazzard.
“I often talk to Brad about a wide range of topics related to matters like that,” he said.
Perrottet has denied receiving special favors from Health Minister Brad Hazzard (pictured right)
I certainly didn’t ask for any favors.
Ambulance wait times have become a major issue for the upcoming state elections on Saturday.
The NSW Paramedics Association sounded the alarm this week over problems they say are affecting ambulance services by promising industrial action.
In addition to better wages, the union is calling for more specialist paramedics and patient transport officers, classification reform and big funding increases for regional health and community health care.
