Labor’s candidate for Bega has raised questions over the development of a regional Eurobodalla hospital after the NSW Government’s $150 million commitment to the project this week.
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Leanne Atkinson said too many questions remained unanswered after Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Bega MP Andrew Constance announced funding for a new shire health facility during a visit to Moruya on Wednesday.
Ms Atkinson welcomed the announcement but said concerns remained about the urgent, ongoing issues facing the region’s healthcare system. She said the funding failed to address immediate matters involving staffing and service provision.
“It’s really important that we support any measures to improve health services in the community, but this petition (for a regional Eurobodalla hospital) that they're talking about had two elements,” Ms Atkinson said.
“The first part was very much about the immediate issues in the Eurobodalla. I think we need to be realistic that, based on what happened with Bega, we’re looking at four to five years before this hospital is up and running.”
Ms Atkinson also raised questions over a potential funding shortfall when compared to the cost of the development of Bega’s $190 million South East Regional Hospital, which opened in early 2016.
Particularly, she expressed her cynicism at the timing of the announcement, which has been criticised by some members of the community as an attempt to garner votes leading into next year’s state election.
“I am very cynical about the timing given this matter has been raised for many years since Andrew’s (Constance) predecessor was in the seat,” she said.
“Andrew has been the local member since 2003 and it takes them until 2018 to decide we need a hospital.
“He should've made this decision much earlier than now. Why is it right before an election? It shouldn't have to take a petition to alert him to this issue.”
While both the Premier and Mr Constance urged residents to cast aside parochialism regarding the hospital’s location, Ms Atkinson said it was essential the community was properly engaged and consulted before a final decision was made.
“We need to take time to consult throughout the community,” she said.
“We need to go and visit each of the towns and villages and talk to all the various groups and get a sense of what the community’s views are and to take that on board in determining a location,” she said.
“I want to know what services are going to be there and what will happen to the two existing hospitals (in Batemans Bay and Moruya).”
