Shellharbour MP Anna Watson has renewed calls for the NSW Premier to kickstart the long-awaited upgrade of Shellharbour Hospital.
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Ms Watson said Thursday’s announcement by Gladys Berejiklian that the government would make a $434 million investment to upgrade Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital was a “kick in the guts” for Shellharbour.
“While any announcement of health infrastructure is welcome, regardless of where it is, when it comes to Shellharbour Hospital I’m bitterly disappointed,” she said.
“The government announced in 2015 that they would invest $251 million in Shellharbour Hospital – to date we have not seen a shovel anywhere near the hospital.
“They’ve backtracked on plans to part-privatise it due to community outrage, and last year, 82 local doctors were signatories to a letter calling on the Minister for Health to properly fund the upgrade.
“We know that $251 million is not going to be anywhere near enough money to redevelop Shellharbour Hospital.”
Ms Watson said Thursday’s announcement for Shoalhaven was “blatant pork barreling”.
“Shellharbour is one of the fastest growing areas in NSW and this government is just letting this electorate down,” she said.
Budget papers reveal as at June 30, 2018, just $5 million had been spent on the Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment. This financial year, $30 million was allocated to the project which is set to be complete by 2022.
Ms Berejiklian said the funds for Shoalhaven Hospital’s upgrade was the result of the “strong advocacy” of South Coast MP Shelley Hancock and Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
“I am proud to announce today that this record health investment for the region will now go-ahead,” she said.
“We have a record hospital rebuilding program where we are creating world class hospitals and creating thousands of construction jobs across NSW.”
The redeveloped Shoalhaven Hospital will include expanded elective surgery; more surgical, acute medical and aged care beds and expanded maternity services.
There will be more operating theatres and increased capacity in the emergency department as well as expansion of outpatient and ambulatory care zones.
Mr Ward added: “Shoalhaven Hospital is my local hospital. I make no apologies for fighting hard for the unprecedented investment for our patients, doctors, nurses and staff.
“Shoalhaven Hospital is no longer a ‘cottage hospital’ and this investment will future-proof our region.”
In response to Ms Watson’s comments on Shellharbour Hospital, he added: “Our commitment was always to start work in the 2018/19 financial year and we’re on track to do that.
“Labor has never matched our $251 million commitment – they’ve only offered $30 million. Labor have only ever closed services at Shellharbour, like maternity – we’re wanting to expand services.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said planning for the new facility was announced in the recent budget, so the district was well advanced in determining the range of health services needed as part of the redevelopment.
Labor’s health spokesman Walt Secord gave “cautious in-principle support” to the funding, but expressed alarm at the “scant details” for the promise.
“Clearly, the Premier has been spooked by the Liberals and Nationals eight years of neglect of the health care needs of families in the Shoalhaven.”