Dominic Perrottet denies he was looking for ‘special favors’ when he called the health minister after his wife waited ‘too long’ for an ambulance
- NSW Premier grilled 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 Secretary Brad Hazzard to speed up an ambulance for his ailing wife.
The NSW Prime Minister was grilled on Sky News over a phone call he made with Mr Hazzard and Ambulance Commissioner Dr. Dominic Morgan, which resulted in an ambulance being sent to his home.
Mr Perrottet said he was not seeking special treatment and does not know whether the commissioner personally ordered an ambulance for his wife Helen to avoid long waiting times.
“My wife was sick and paralyzed in bed at the time and I actually spoke to Brad Hazzard about that matter and an ambulance was arranged,” Perrottet said.
The Prime Minister said he was on his way back from an event when he called Mr Hazzard.
The ambulance was called for Mr Perrottet’s wife, Helen (pictured front left), who was paralyzed in bed
“I spoke to Brad to get his advice on the situation. Brad was actually random enough at the ambulance chief at the time,” he said.
“Do you understand that most people in NSW don’t have the option of calling the Health Secretary or the Ambulance Service if they need an ambulance?” she pressed the prime minister.
“My one-year-old son was almost without a mother because it took two hours for an ambulance to arrive and you got the ambulance commissioner and the health minister to arrange an ambulance to your house.”
When asked why he would call the health minister for advice about his ailing wife rather than a doctor, Mr Perrottet replied that he is ‘very close’ to Mr Hazzard.
“I often talk to Brad about a whole range of issues related to that kind of business,” he said.
Mr Perrottet has denied receiving any special favors from Health Secretary Brad Hazzard (pictured right)
“I certainly didn’t ask for any favors.”
Ambulance waiting times have become a major issue ahead of Saturday’s upcoming state election.
The NSW Paramedics Association this week sounded the alarm about issues it says affect ambulance services by pledging union action.
In addition to better pay, the union is calling for more specialized paramedics and patient transport officers, triage reform and massive funding increases for regional health and community health services.