Healthcare workers protest private hospital control in regional NSW

Healthcare workers in the Central West region of New South Wales are raising concerns regarding the public-private partnership (PPP) model used to operate Orange, Bloomfield, and Bathurst hospitals. The Health Services Union (HSU) argues that the profit-driven nature of these contracts creates an "inevitable and unavoidable conflict between public health and private profit."

During a parliamentary inquiry, staff reported grievances including poor workplace culture, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate equipment. Specifically, a wardsman testified that outdated hospital beds were difficult to maneuver, leading to physical injuries. Issues regarding rostering also persist; on July 6, approximately 40 workers at Orange Base Hospital conducted a two-hour strike to protest rostering practices they claim impact staff wellbeing and patient care.

While there are calls to return these facilities to full public control, the state government is contractually obligated to the current private operators until at least 2032. HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes stated that the union's current focus is on improving day-to-day conditions and patient outcomes while the contracts remain in place.