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A public forum, hosted by The Maitland Mercury on Monday, will shed more light on plans for the new Lower Hunter hospital.
Since it was announced in 2013, plans for the health facility have been hotly debated by state parliamentarians, health workers and their unions, and the community at large.
There has been ongoing talk about whether the hospital should be funded by a public-private partnership and, in recent weeks, questions have been raised about whether the facility would be better placed in Kurri Kurri or Metford.
Monday’s forum, to be held at East Maitland Bowling Club from 6.30pm, will feature a range of panelists who will answer questions from the community.
It comes after new Health Minister Brad Hazzard said in March that all options for the funding, operation and location of the hospital were back on the table.
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison, Hunter New England Local Health District CEO Michael DiRienzo and Dr Ben Spies-Butcher, Senior Lecturer Economy and Society at Macquarie University, will speak at the forum.
NSW Nurses and Midwives assistant secretary Judith Kiejda, Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes and Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation executive director Andrew Holland will then join Mr DiRienzo and Dr Spies-Butcher for a Q and A style panel discussion.
Fairfax Media Lower Hunter editor Eve Nesmith, who will emcee the event, said The Mercury was hosting the forum to inform the community and advocate in its best interest.
“There’s little more important than the health of our community and access to appropriate services,” she said. “I want to be able to paint a complete picture of what health services in the Lower Hunter will look like on completion. This will allow members of our community to form educated opinions and a share of voice in the project.”
Ms Nesmith said key questions about where the hospital would be located, construction timelines, bed numbers, the range of ancillary services, the funding model and the government’s full financial commitment needed to be answered.
“Many of the decisions regarding the Lower Hunter hospital were made by [former Health Minister] Jillian Skinner, who no longer holds that office,” she said. “Incoming Health Minister Brad Hazzard has indicated he will approach the issue with an open mind and listen to the community.
“I think Minister Hazzard has indicated that he is prepared, if necessary, to reverse bad decisions in light of new information and we want to give him that opportunity.”
Mr Hazzard has declined to attend Monday’s forum and instead Mr DiRienzo will appear in his place.
PETITION
The residents of the Hunter Region are calling on the NSW Coalition Government to ensure that hospitals are publicly operated and kept in public hands.
Download the petition here.