Federal Labor has pledged $25 million towards building the planned Eurobodalla Shire Hospital.
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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is due to announce details in Moruya on Tuesday, Feburary 5.
He said the $25 million was in addition to a $175 million pledge from the NSW Labor Opposition for the regional hospital.
On October 31, 2018, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Bega MP Andrew Constance said the NSW Government would spend $150 million on a regional hospital in the shire, at a site to be determined.
The Coalition announcement followed a brief, but determined public campaign in the shire, led by Moruya surgeon Michael Holland.
Mr Shorten said federal Labor’s $25 million investment would go towards:
• “a state-of-the-art” emergency department
• Operating theatres
• Maternity and paediatric services
• Pathology services
• Radiology services including X-ray, ultrasound and CT scanning
• Palliative care
• A helipad
• Up to 20 mental health beds
• Community drug and alcohol services
• A rehabilitation unit
The NSW Government in October 2017 allocated $500,000 to begin planning for a regional hospital.
Batemans Bay GPs Andrew Gibson and David Rivett in 2018 called for an independent report on where a regional hospital should be located.
Mr Constance in October 2018 said the site would be decided by health demographers but must allow for future expansion.
Mr Shorten said Labor “will consult extensively with the Eurobodalla community to determine the best site for the new hospital”
He accused the NSW Government of under investing in the project.
“While the NSW Liberals have also recognised the need for a new Eurobodalla Hospital, they have woefully underfunded the project, with fears the planned hospital will exclude inpatient mental health services,” Mr Shorten said.
“This is a slap in the face for a region that faces mental health and alcohol and other drug challenges.
“Labor’s combined $200 million commitment includes $50 million more than the Liberals have promised, and builds on federal Labor’s existing commitment that a Shorten Government will grant a full Medicare MRI licence to the region, boosting access to life-saving scans.”
However in October 2018 Mr Constance said he was confident $150 million was adequate.
“The $150 million will build it,” he said.