Labor candidate for Kiama Glenn Kolomeitz has described the relocation of Kiama Hospital’s 20 inpatient beds to Port Kembla as ‘‘a double thumbs-up display of deception’’ by Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kiama Council is in the process of buying the 3.3-hectare hospital site from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District for a $58million Blue Haven aged-care development, with the health service to build a new facility on the land to continue delivering outpatient services.
The project has attracted an $8million commitment from the NSW government through the $100million Illawarra Infrastructure Fund.
Mr Kolomeitz said Mr Ward misleadingly stated he had secured $8million for Kiama Hospital.
‘‘What he has actually done is secured $8million to get rid of the service,’’ Mr Kolomeitz said.
‘‘This money will be used to demolish the hospital and relocate a critical local service to Port Kembla.’’
Mr Kolomeitz said the establishment of a ‘‘Centre of Excellence for Aged Care’’ would be a welcome addition to aged-care services and employment in the Kiama area, but it signals the end of inpatient care at Kiama.
He believed the health district could use its part of the land to maintain the 20-bed inpatient unit.
Kiama Hospital Auxiliary president Barbara McClure said the auxiliary and community were angry about the loss.
‘‘Who wants to travel all the way to Port Kembla?’’ she asked.
‘‘Kiama has an ageing population and needs a service like this... we support the idea of a centre of excellence, but believe there is room for both.’’
Auxiliary member Jean Kells said the Kiama hospital had proven vital for many elderly patients and their families.
‘‘Kiama needs a public hospital,’’ Ms Kells said.
Mr Ward said he was committed to enhancing outpatient services at Kiama Hospital.
‘‘The ISLHD has developed a long-term clinical services plan to guide future health services for our community,’’ Mr Ward said.
‘‘As part of this plan, 20 sub-acute beds from Kiama Hospital site will eventually move to new state-of-the-art facilities on the Shellharbour Hospital campus.’’