[Greens-Media] Community says 'no' to proposed Northern Beaches hospital

[John Kaye]

Community says 'no' to proposed Northern Beaches hospital

Media Release: 25 November 2013

Community members rallied in opposition to the proposed development of a privately built and operated 'public' hospital in Frenchs Forest. Greens NSW MP John Kaye joined the protest and voiced the Greens' concern.

Dr Kaye said, "The O'Farrell government is refusing to listen to the community's legitimate concerns about this proposed new hospital.

"Far from solving the public health needs of the northern beaches residents, this hospital would double the number of private beds without substantial improvements to the number of public beds.

"Health Minister Jillian Skinner is pushing ahead with the development before traffic management strategies have been determined.

"The works required to deal with the traffic and flooding problems along Frenchs Forest Rd and Wakehurst Parkway will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Construction will cause significant disruptions to locals and commuters for years. These are costs that have not even been budgeted for.

"Minister Skinner is opening up public health care to private operators without first determining the complete cost to the public purse.

"The credibility of the government's proposed ecological 'offset' strategy is in tatters after one of the state's most respected consultants panned it. 

"The region is about to lose some very important ecological assets, including one of the last remnants of Duffys Forest and a critical corridor between reserves and parks.

"It is critical that the assessment be thorough and independent. The government's effort has been anything but. 

"The proposed 'offset' in Belrose is neither an example of Duffy's Forest ecological community nor will it do anything to allow migration of the wildlife in the remaining compartments.

"This hospital is in the wrong location. The Northern Beaches need a new public hospital but the feasibility of building on existing public health services has not even been considered.

"The private delivery model will see public patient care sacrificed to the pursuit of profit just as patients at Royal North Shore and Port Macquarie have seen the quality of their public hospitals decline. 

"The downgrading of Mona Vale Hospital and the closure of Manly will subject some residents in acute emergency situations to travel times of at least half an hour. Traffic congestion will make matters much worse, leading to intolerable life-threatening situations. 

"Local member Mike Baird and his Liberal colleagues should recognise that they may have made a mistake in jumping on board with Labor's hospital plan.  

"Only the private health providers will benefit from this development," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455