- Home
- Hansard & Papers
- Legislative Assembly
- 19 October 2006
Lismore Base Hospital
Printing Tips |
Print selected text
| Full Day Hansard Transcript
« Prior Item |
Item 30 of 45
| Next Item »
Page: 3100
Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [4.56 p.m.]: I refer to the provision of health services in the Lismore area. Lismore has always been recognised as the geographical and medical centre of the North Coast area, including western parts of the area as far west as Tenterfield. A couple of weeks ago I convened a public meeting in Lismore, which was attended by the five mayors representing Tenterfield Shire Council, Richmond Valley Council, Kyogle Council, Lismore City Council and Ballina Shire Council. Also in attendance were the honourable member for Ballina and the honourable member for Clarence. I convened the public meeting because the redevelopment of Lismore Base Hospital seems to be taking an inordinately long time, which is of concern. Stage one is the new mental health unit, which should have been nearly completed. However, the contracts have not been signed, but the Minister assured me that will happen in the next few weeks. Hopefully we will then see a start. Although a lot of preliminary work has been done, I look forward to stage one commencing.
The stage two development is a radiotherapy unit. In 2004 Minister Tony Abbott from the Federal Government and Minister Frank Sartor from the Carr Government announced that a jointly funded radiotherapy unit would be built in Lismore. Each of them allocated $8 million to the project, which was a great win for the community. However, the broader community is concerned that we do not have a start-up date. The community is well aware that we had to build stage one before we could build stage two because they could not be built together. In 2004 the cost of the radiotherapy unit was estimated to be $16 million, but that has now risen to $23 million without a commitment to a start-up date. I am concerned that if it is deferred much longer the escalating cost will cause financial problems. However, when I made representations to the Minister the other day he told me that it was a priority, as it should be because Lismore has the fourth-highest number of oncology operations in New South Wales.
Stage three is the completion of the redevelopment of Lismore Base Hospital. I spoke to the Minister about it, he is well aware of it and he assured me that it is being well progressed. He also assured me that it is a priority for the North Coast Area Health Service. I asked the Minister to ensure that the completion of stage three continues to progress. Rehabilitation services have been provided under contract by St Vincent's Private Hospital in Lismore for some 40 years. In 2002 a study revealed that rehabilitation beds would be needed at Ballina in addition to the ones at St Vincent's hospital, but not to replace them.
Antagonism was certainly evident at the meeting. I could not believe the feeling between the executive of St Vincent's Hospital and the Lismore Base Hospital. The community was shocked when it saw the feeling expressed at the meeting. A decision has been made by the North Coast Area Health Service to remove the rehabilitation unit from Lismore. My plea is for both hospitals to get together and sort out their differences because, at the end of the day, the five mayors and three members of Parliament representing the residents simply ask for services to be provided to the region. Those elected representatives believe that health service organisations at loggerheads will not be able to provide the services to the community that are rightly deserved and greatly needed. The hospitals provide services to people living in areas from Tenterfield in the west, to Ballina in the east, from Kyogle and Mullumbimby in the north, to Grafton in the south. I ask those hospitals to work together.
Last modified 05/12/2007 16:44:37 : Update this page