[Greens-Media] Northern Beaches Hospital proposal fails to meet community health demands

[John Kaye]

Northern Beaches Hospital proposal fails to meet community health demands

Media release: 22 May 2013

(Editors: photos available on demand)

Greens NSW MP John Kaye joined community members at today's early morning rally against the proposed Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest. The planned hospital announced earlier this month is opposed by many Northern Beaches residents as it will compound traffic problems, damage the local environment and ignore the existing benefits of the hospital sites at Mona Vale and Manly.

Dr Kaye said: "The community is opposed to the proposed hospital development at Frenchs Forest for valid and serious reasons.

"If the new development goes ahead, Mona Vale Hospital will inevitably be closed and the land sold to a real estate developer. The O'Farrell government will never invest the money needed in the buildings to make the site work as a 'complementary facility'.

"The Mona Vale site will become a very attractive proposition for Finance Minister Greg Pearce's hunt for state assets to flog off.

"Many Northern Beaches residents who will be forced to travel to the new site over even longer distances on badly congested roads. For some it will be quicker to go to Royal North Shore.

"The new facility will be too close to Royal North Shore raising questions about the type of services it will be able to develop.

"The O'Farrell government's Northern Beaches Hospital proposal is an irresponsible gift to the private health industry. It will become yet another way for Health Minister Jillian Skinner to pass the blame for poor health service outcomes.
"Despite years of protests against the proposal, the O'Farrell government has chosen to ignore its constituents to pursue its health privatisation agenda.

"When he was in Opposition, the Premier spoke out against this development. Now he is in power, vested interests have trumped the local community's right to quality local medical care.

"Like the rest of the community, the Greens recognise the need for new investment in hospital services on the Northern Beaches. It is a great shame that the Coalition has locked onto this model at this location.

"We are also concerned about the future of the land at Manly Hospital. It must remain in public hands and be used for public purposes. There are worrying signs that the O'Farrell government wants to sell it off.

"The O'Farrell government ignored the petition of over ten thousand Northern Beaches residents calling for the upgrade and expansion of Mona Vale hospital to make it the site of the new Level 5 proposal.

"The Coalition has chosen instead to downgrade the services at Mona Vale hospital.

"The O'Farrell government must come clean about its ongoing health services plans for the Northern Beaches community. They have a responsibility to ensure major infrastructure and planning decisions reflect community wishes," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

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