Katoomba Hospital's emergency department could be burdened with more than 4000 extra patients a year if the federal government's $7 GP payment is introduced, said NSW opposition health spokesman, Walt Secord, outside the hospital last week.
Mr Secord said modelling done by NSW Health showed there will be a 27 per cent increase in emergency department admissions due to the GP tax.
Official figures show that 15,843 people visited the Katoomba emergency department in 2013-14.
"The NSW modelling shows an additional 4,277 patients every year would be forced to use Blue Mountains hospital's emergency department as they will be unable to afford the Liberals' GP tax," Mr Secord said.
Many would be non-urgent cases with symptoms they previously took to their doctor, he said.
"The GP tax will mean that waiting for treatment in emergency departments will get longer... The pain of Tony Abbott's health care cuts will be felt across NSW."
ALP candidate for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, said she had already been contacted by Mountains residents who were afraid they would not be able to afford not only the GP charge but planned charges for X-rays and pathology tests.
Parents of families were particularly worried, she said.
"A local doctor told me they are really concerned about this community. She said there will be a zillion people who turn up to the emergency department here and they will wait in line for three to fives times as long. She's hearing that concern expressed to her by some of her patients already."
Ms Doyle said it would also have an adverse effect on staff.
"I don't think they deserve to be put under increased pressure."
Mr Secord, said Katoomba already receives a large number of so-called semi-urgent or non urgent patients, presenting with asthma attacks, ear aches or cuts which may need stitching.
"Those people will now come here because they can't afford the co-payment. It's going to create a two-tier system and you can't blame them - they won't be able to afford to go to a GP."
Macquarie MP, Louise Markus, said: "The decision to charge a co-payment at an emergency hospital is an option for the state government; my understanding is the NSW Government is not taking this option."
