THE LOWER HUNTER HOSPITAL – THE STORY SO FAR
The state government has promised a state-of-the-art new hospital for the Lower Hunter, to be built in Maitland.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But, four years after the project was announced, details on what services the hospital will provide, how many beds it will contain, how it will be funded, when construction work will begin and when the first patient will pass through the doors remain unanswered.
PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR BOTH?
There’s been a lot of speculation about how the new hospital will be funded.
Former Health Minister Jillian Skinner called for expressions of interest from private businesses to enter a public-private partnership (PPP) with the government.
The Lower Hunter hospital was one of five public hospitals earmarked for a PPP.
Mrs Skinner and former NSW Premier Mike Baird repeatedly said the Lower Hunter hospital would be a public hospital to cater for public patients, but the prospect of a PPP drew fierce criticism from Labor and health workers’ unions.
In March, new Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new hospital would not operate under a public-private partnership if it would not meet the region’s health needs over the next 30 years.
WHERE WILL THE HOSPITAL BE BUILT?
While the state government announced in 2013 that the new Lower Hunter hospital would be built at a former brick works site at Metford, in Maitland’s east, debate about the best location for the facility was reignited earlier this year.
After a NSW Cabinet shake-up, new Health Minister Brad Hazzard said all options for the hospital were back on the table.
He refused to rule-out a change in where the hospital will be built, which fueled calls from Cessnock City Council and Lower Hunter communities west of Maitland for the hospital to be built at the former Hydro Aluminium site at Kurri Kurri.
WHAT’S THE MERCURY’S OPINION?
The Maitland Mercury believes the new Lower Hunter hospital should be a publicly funded and publicly run facility that is built at the Metford site that the government settled on in 2013.
Fairfax Media Lower Hunter editor Eve 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.
“There’s little more important than the health of our community and access to appropriate services,” she said.
“Many of the decisions regarding the Lower Hunter hospital were made by [former Health Minister] Jillian Skinner, who no longer holds that office.
“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.”
Read some of The Mercury’s editorial opinion pieces:
HAVE YOUR SAY
The Mercury will host a public forum about plans for the new hospital at East Maitland Bowling Club on April 15 at 6.30pm.
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.
All community members are welcome.
Complete the form below to submit a question to be considered for the forum.
Related content:
