Health Services Union (HSU) delegate Peter Iffland said the union was concerned NSW could follow in Western Australia’s footsteps by privatising the health system except for clinical staff. 

Public hospitals would be privately built and managed.

In April last year, Premier Mike Baird said the model could provide a “fantastic opportunity” to give patients the best services.

“We believe it’s highly likely,” Mr Iffland said of the model coming to NSW. 

“In west Australia, if people wanted to stay in the health system, they had to sign individual contracts paying 30 per cent less than they’re currently earning. That’s 30 per cent less money going into the community.”

Placards listed jobs under threat including cleaners, therapists, biomedical staff and dialysis technicians.

HSU western organiser Zelda Giblett said under the Western Australian model, staff were not hired in the same numbers.

“The companies look at what they can get out of it,” she said.

Mr Gee was not at his office at the time, but Ms Giblett said the HSU would distribute a letter to all MPs asking them to pledge their opposition to privatisation.

In a statement, Mr Gee said the rally surprised him and accused the HSU of whipping up a scare campaign.

“If they were serious about wanting to have a discussion about issues they are concerned about, I would have thought the best way to go about it would have been to ring, request a meeting, or at least let me know they were planning to turn up,” he said.

“It’s all part of a campaign by the HSU of scaring people into thinking their hospitals are going to be flogged off or ‘Americanised’. 

“The hospitals in the Orange electorate are not for sale, full stop.”

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au