Health Minister Accused Of Ignoring Hospital Congestion

BY JARROD MELMETH

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is being accused of ignoring the concerns of Hunter residents who are experiencing traffic gridlock at the John Hunter Hospital.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has taken aim at the Minister after he dismissed a letter she sent containing more than 30 pages of what she described as "real-life examples from staff and visitors and practical solutions that would help ease some of the congestion while waiting for the Newcastle Inner City Bypass Stage 5 to be constructed."

Ms Hornery said recent roadworks have done nothing to fix the congestion issues.

"There has been a new carpark a couple of years ago that was built, which is some distance from the hospital itself and that was supposed to provide the solution to everyone's parking woes and travel woes, but it has not.

"We want to ensure that our ambulances services can get in and out of the hospital quicker and safer than the current very cramped and very awkward situation they deal with.

"I invite the minister to come and sit with me at peak hour to see how busy it is and how congested it is in the morning and the evening," Ms Hornery said.

In response to Ms Hornerys letter, Mr Hazard said the previous roadworks have had a positive impact on traffic flow which makes entering and exiting the campus easier and faster. Mr Hazard also said he had referred the correspondence onto the Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey.

Ms Hornery said she does not expect much action from Ms Pavey.

"I'm still waiting for the fifth stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass to be prioritised by the government. They seem to have put that on the back burner, like many of the projects in Wallsend.

Traffic congestion around the John
Hunter Hospital. Image: The Newcastle
Herald

PPP scrapped for not-for-profit model for the new Maitland Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The controversial public private partnership (PPP) for the new Maitland hospital has been scrapped, with the state government deciding to go down a not-for-profit path.

They've announced they will approach a not-for-profit provider to build and run the new hospital using their own funds on top of the already promised $450 million from the government in this year's budget.

The not-for-profit plan will be rolled out and conducted in a similar way to Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard believes this is a much better option, an option both the community along with doctors and nurses want, rather than the PPP model proposed previously.

"The local community didn't want that and I met with them and talked to the nurses and as a result we looked at other options and the best option, the really best option, to provide free public health care and to provide a precinct for health going forward for decades and hundreds of more jobs, would be to go for not-for-profit," said Brad Hazzard.

"It will be public free healthcare through an amazing hospital right there in Maitland and hopefully that new hospital will become the catalyst for further development but even in the process of building the hospital there will be about 1,250 jobs coming into Maitland and then, of course, hundreds of doctors and nurses will be employed in the hospital."

The government has also announced construction will begin sooner rather than later, and as soon as the end of 2017.

"I've set a very high bar for health infrastructure and said to them I'd really like something kicking off by later this year but that is dependent upon getting the expressions of interest, the tender projects done, but certainly if that doesn't work than early next year but really putting the pressure on to get it underway," said Brad Hazzard.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison says better late than never.

"We've been advocating that it needed to be done much quicker than its already been and we're well over 2,000 days. That quicker commencement time of starting at the end of this year instead of the end of next year is good news for us."

However, while the Maitland MP is glad something has changed, she's already looking forward to the problems they're sure to face once the hospital nears completion.

"What we need to do is really look at the issues around governance and decision making, ensuring that this hospital is held accountable to the community, that reporting is adequate, that patient nurse ratios are adequate, that the staff get a fair transition - I think they said there's going to be a two-year transition period," said Jenny Aitchison.

She also hopes the organisation who takes on the job has all of the appropriate measures in place within the contract to allow for hospital expansion in the future, as well as measures to ensure services the community needs, and wants, are delivered through the hospital.

Welcome Reprieve For 24/7 Calvary Mater Hospital Palliative Care Service

BY IAN CROUCH

The vital 24/7 Palliative Care service at the Calvary Mater Hospital will remain following representations to Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

It was feared the service would be cut back to a telephone hotline service after hours instead of having nursing staff on duty for home visits.

More than 400 palliative patients use the service and doctors and staff at the hospital were worried the rumoured cutback would take away the choices for patients on where and how they will end their lives.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp says it's a win for common sense.

"I met with the minister, local CEO of the area health service, also other advocates, and I think a lot of noise was made and we've finally had a win for common sense. Death is not limited to those hours and the minister certainly wasn't impressed with the situation either and so we have had a win. It's a terrific outcome," he said.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crackenthorp

New Maitland Hospital Goes Back To The Drawing Board

BY IAN CROUCH

The state's new health minister is backing away from the proposed public private partnership to build and operate the new Maitland Hospital at Metford.

Brad Hazzard has decided to go back to the drawing board, 7 months after the government announced the $400-million hospital would operate under a Public Private Partnership.

He's told the Herald the project needs more money as the current plans won't cater for Maitland's growing population, saying all options are back on the table.

He said former Health Minister, Jillian Skinner had allocated $200 million - which would provide a hospital but not one which is needed for a growing population.

However, he doesn't want to see the project delayed, saying one of the options could be having the private sector build the hospital but not actually run it.


He says while he's pushing hard to build the hospital as soon as possible, it would not be treating patients for about five years.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard