WED 12 NOV 2014
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Trades & Services Tra Need help at your place this weekend? p.17
Options aplenty Government documents reveal shortlist for Lower Hunter Hospital design MELISSAH COMBER
Fallout Boy Back on the musical map
Working in a war zone p.5
Our local champion Melbourne Cup winner in the Hunter p.21
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M
orisset’s specialist psychiatric hospital could be relocated into the Lower Hunter Hospital, in one of the four options NSW Health Infrastructure has outlined for the new development. Documents released by the Government last week show a shortlist of five options for the area’s health services, as of August this year, ranging from ‘do nothing’ to a $698.5 million construction of the new hospital, including a relocation of the Morisset hospital and East Maitland Community Health. That option would see 558 beds come to the area. Two other options would see the Morisset relocation happen at a later date, but would both include the East Maitland Community Health relocation. The differing options would see 465 and 444 beds at the Lower Hunter Hospital, costing $639.6 million and $597 million, respectively. The latter of those two options would see all inpatient acute services conducted at the Metford site, while the outpatient services would remain at the current Maitland Hospital. A fifth option would see unnamed clinical services nominated by Hunter New England Health operated at the new site and a plan for future expansion zones, but has not been costed. The briefing paper was released by the Government after an opposition motion by their health spokesperson, Walt Secord, calling for all documents related to the funding model for the hospital to be made public.
Maitland MP, Robyn Parker and Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, at last year’s site announcement However, only eleven of the fourteen boxes of documents were released, and they did not contain information on a potential public- private partnership. Mr Secord said he would challenge the decision to keep the three remaining boxes confidential. “Parliamentarians are bound by threat of contempt of parliament, if they release or discuss the documents under privilege‌therefore I am very limited on what I can say about their contents,â€? Mr Secord said.
NSW Health Minister, Jillian Skinner and Member for Maitland, Robyn Parker have both gone on the record multiple times stating that public patients will be able to be treated at the hospital. A community information session on the hospital will be held at the Monte Pio on Tuesday, November 25 from 5:30pm. To register for attendance, phone 9978 5444 or email HI- info@health.nsw.gov.au by November 18. All attendees must register their name, email or postal address and phone number.
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