And front-line health workers have told Mrs Fardell the GWAHS “razor gang” is seeking to cut jobs to address budget mismanagement.

Mrs Fardell lashed out in Parliament on Tuesday, demanding GWAHS gets its priorities straight and pays outstanding bills to frontline health providers.

She also said health workers had contacted her worried about losing their jobs. One health worker told Mrs Fardell there’s “no money to do our jobs, bullying across the workplace, and fear of retribution.”

According to Mrs Fardell GWAHS owes up to $66 million dollars in unpaid bills.

The Federal Government has been asked to intervene in the escalating financial crisis, which came to light when Dubbo Base Hospital failed to pay a $22,000 bill for five months to Sydney software supplier Global Direction.

A spokesperson from GWAHS said it is working with NSW Health to ensure it meets the benchmark for payment of creditors.

“The health service acknowledges that it has entered into a mutually agreeable payment arrangement with a radiology service provider in the Dubbo area,” the spokesperson said.

GWAHS said the delivery of radiology services had not been impacted by the payment arrangement.

Mrs Fardell said she lamented with creditors yet to be paid.

“Chasing money from a government department is a slow and a tedious process creating constant frustration and great cost for the companies involved,” she said.

“To add insult to this debacle, It seems the only way the Health Department and GWAHS can see to fix their self-made dilemma is to reduce already overworked local staff numbers,”.

“Staff who are the victims of bad management should not now pay the price for administrative incompetence,” she said.

The MP also raised concerns GWAHS management was putting the needs of their own stomachs ahead of basic patient care

This week, Mrs Fardell said a Dubbo dining establishment was paid before a medical contractor.

“Instead of prioritising payment for basic patient care services, GWAHS is ensuring the coffee shops and restaurants where administrators dine out on gourmet sandwiches are paid first,” she said.

belinda.galloway@ruralpre ss.com