Community health, rehabilitation and aged care are some of the future options that the state government is investigating for the Maitland Hospital site after the new Lower Hunter hospital is opened at Metford.
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The Mercury reported last year that the government planned to transfer the existing health services from the High Street facility to the Metford hospital.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner told the Mercury yesterday that a decision had not been made on the future use of the Maitland Hospital site.
But she said Health Infrastructure and Hunter New England Local Health District representatives had consulted stakeholders and were investigating possible options for Maitland Hospital.
“Through these consultations with clinicians and the community, there is the option that the old hospital site may be utilised for health-related purposes such as rehabilitation, community health, aged-care,” Mrs Skinner said.
Hunter New England Health acting director of operations, acute networks, Karen Kelly said the plan to transfer Maitland Hospital’s services to Metford had been announced in November after the issue was raised at a public forum.
“Specifically what will happen with the existing site is yet to be determined,” she said.
“Right now we are focusing on planning for the new hospital.
“It is possible that it could be retained as a health facility, but that will be determined as we get closer to the commissioning of a new hospital.”
Opposition health spokesman Walt Secord said Labor would not close Maitland Hospital if elected to government.
But Mrs Skinner called on Labor to explain how it would fund two hospitals that were within 10km of each other.
“Will it come at the expense of other facilities like John Hunter or are they planning to close Kurri Kurri or Cessnock to keep both Maitland hospitals open?” she asked.
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said the plan to transfer Maitland Hospital’s services was a broken promise from the government.
“Maitland’s population is projected to grow by 25,000 over the next 15 years and the Liberals and Nationals are planning to close a public hospital and replace it with a private one,” she said.
“It just doesn’t make sense, especially when Labor spent $10 million on upgrading the emergency department just before the last election.
“If elected in March Labor will review the government’s decision to close Maitland Hospital.
“We want to see health services continue at the site. Labor won’t close the hospital.”
