Mona Vale Hospital to be demolished in
the midst of an international pandemic
Betrayed yet again by the Berejiklian Government
This is despite the promise by the Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard on 12 December 2018 that there would be no demolition of the building.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIY-OemEyDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIY-OemEyDY
Port Kembla Hospital, a building of similar age and design, also with asbestos, was renovated and modernised. Of course, Port Kembla Hospital is not in the electorate of Rob Stokes, who supports the demolition of our public hospital and consequently, the loss of local public health services.
We have again been let down by our elected representatives.. Despite the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry, it would seem that the standard response to inquiries and commissions by both our State and Federal Government is accept the report and then be selective as to what they will support.
The Berejiklian Government response to the very comprehensive Report by the Parliamentary Inquiry has certainly been selective in which recommendations it will support. This is despite the fact that the committee holding the Parliamentary Inquiry included members of the Berejiklian government, who quite tellingly, did not provide a dissenting report!
Although the State Government accepted most of the recommendations to improve services at Northern Beaches Hospital, they would not support the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry regarding Mona Vale Hospital:
* An end to the demolition of Mona Vale Hospital
* The re-opening of the MVH Emergency Department. The Berejiklan Government’s response is that those services are now available at Northern Beaches Hospital, which is ironically closer to Bondi than Avalon. Other areas of Sydney have far greater choice of public health services. The Berejiklian Government has thus closed acute services at two public hospitals and replaced them with one private hospital that is required to provide services and beds for (some) public patients!
The Berejiklian Government response to the very comprehensive Report by the Parliamentary Inquiry has certainly been selective in which recommendations it will support. This is despite the fact that the committee holding the Parliamentary Inquiry included members of the Berejiklian government, who quite tellingly, did not provide a dissenting report!
Although the State Government accepted most of the recommendations to improve services at Northern Beaches Hospital, they would not support the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry regarding Mona Vale Hospital:
* An end to the demolition of Mona Vale Hospital
* The re-opening of the MVH Emergency Department. The Berejiklan Government’s response is that those services are now available at Northern Beaches Hospital, which is ironically closer to Bondi than Avalon. Other areas of Sydney have far greater choice of public health services. The Berejiklian Government has thus closed acute services at two public hospitals and replaced them with one private hospital that is required to provide services and beds for (some) public patients!
Although the State Government, in general, accepted that the land would not be sold. They did say however confirm that there would be private medical services on site. We are concerned about any leasing arrangements made with private medical providers. It is not clear how long these leases would be, although apparently not 99 years which, is cold comfort. We will need a new public hospital on the site long before then.
It is imperative that we keep the government to their word that the site on which Mona Vale Hospital sits remains in public hands. it is indisputable that despite the government’s love affair with the private sector, our area, with increasing residential growth, is going to need a local public hospital.
Without doubt, the people on the northern beaches are now worse off, with health care increasingly less accessible geographically and financially more expensive as the public health services are replaced by private services. The claim that “people on the northern beaches can afford private health insurance” is an outrageous assumption.
We certainly do not agree with the fulsome praise of the Health Secretary and former chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy who said on 7 September 2020,
“New South Wales is the exemplar. They've had a proud history of many, many years of advanced investment in public health,"
Sadly and especially now, even health has been politicised..
It is imperative that we keep the government to their word that the site on which Mona Vale Hospital sits remains in public hands. it is indisputable that despite the government’s love affair with the private sector, our area, with increasing residential growth, is going to need a local public hospital.
Without doubt, the people on the northern beaches are now worse off, with health care increasingly less accessible geographically and financially more expensive as the public health services are replaced by private services. The claim that “people on the northern beaches can afford private health insurance” is an outrageous assumption.
We certainly do not agree with the fulsome praise of the Health Secretary and former chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy who said on 7 September 2020,
“New South Wales is the exemplar. They've had a proud history of many, many years of advanced investment in public health,"
Sadly and especially now, even health has been politicised..
What can you do???
We must not let this virtual dismissal of the Parliamentary Inquiry regarding Mona Vale Hospital go unchallenged!!
Please express your sense of betrayal by writing to oppose demolition of the site and redevelopment for private health providers.
We must not let this virtual dismissal of the Parliamentary Inquiry regarding Mona Vale Hospital go unchallenged!!
Please express your sense of betrayal by writing to oppose demolition of the site and redevelopment for private health providers.
Mona Vale Hospital Being Demolished September 2020
Despite Brad Hazzard’s promise that the building would not be demolished, it is to be demolished.
All the indications are that the government is determined to block any possibility of a substantial new public hospital building being built on the site. This is unacceptable and typically short sighted. Other departments of this government have also demonstrated such short-sightedness and poor planning.
Please contact Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater, whose initial betrayal was a promise that Mona Vale Hospital was not closing, (just reduced to a virtual medical centre or, as they label it, an Urgent Care Centre).
Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes [email protected]
Ph. 9999 3599 1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale 2103
Incidentally, please use the UCC or we will lose that too.
All the indications are that the government is determined to block any possibility of a substantial new public hospital building being built on the site. This is unacceptable and typically short sighted. Other departments of this government have also demonstrated such short-sightedness and poor planning.
Please contact Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater, whose initial betrayal was a promise that Mona Vale Hospital was not closing, (just reduced to a virtual medical centre or, as they label it, an Urgent Care Centre).
Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes [email protected]
Ph. 9999 3599 1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale 2103
Incidentally, please use the UCC or we will lose that too.
Brad Hazzard, the Minister for Health, who said the building was not to be demolished.
Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard
https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/ministers/minister-for-health-and-medical-research/
Ph. 8574 6000
GP0 Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001
Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier who has failed to show any concern for the welfare of voters on the northern beaches. She feels secure in the knowledge that it is a strong Liberal seat and thus our concerns don’t matter.
The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian
https://www.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the-premier/
Ph 8574 5000 GPO Box 5341, Sydney, NSW 2000
Northern Beaches Hospital
If you listen to government sources or NBH management, everything is fine at Northern Beaches Hospital. That has not been our information. Things have fortunately improved but there are still a number of issues of concern. If you have a story to tell, please contact us. [email protected]
Our funds are currently running low and so if you can spare any money, it would be appreciated. We now have to be vigilant about this government’s plans for the site of our Mona Vale Public Hospital.
Bitter sweet breaking news
The New South Wales Government has just announced plans for a new hospital in Shellharbour. Interestingly this area is not a Coalition stronghold, currently represented by a member of the Labor Party. The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has stated that the government is committing an additional $320 million to build a new hospital and ironically, it will not be a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) . It would appear that our painful experience has caused a rethink on PPP.
So, no private public partnership for the people of Shellharbour. Lucky them! We are obviously in the wrong electorate!
Please contact the politicians and tell them just what you think of their betrayal.
Regards
Sue Martin
Secretary
Save Mona Vale Hospital
Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard
https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/ministers/minister-for-health-and-medical-research/
Ph. 8574 6000
GP0 Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001
Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier who has failed to show any concern for the welfare of voters on the northern beaches. She feels secure in the knowledge that it is a strong Liberal seat and thus our concerns don’t matter.
The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian
https://www.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the-premier/
Ph 8574 5000 GPO Box 5341, Sydney, NSW 2000
Northern Beaches Hospital
If you listen to government sources or NBH management, everything is fine at Northern Beaches Hospital. That has not been our information. Things have fortunately improved but there are still a number of issues of concern. If you have a story to tell, please contact us. [email protected]
Our funds are currently running low and so if you can spare any money, it would be appreciated. We now have to be vigilant about this government’s plans for the site of our Mona Vale Public Hospital.
Bitter sweet breaking news
The New South Wales Government has just announced plans for a new hospital in Shellharbour. Interestingly this area is not a Coalition stronghold, currently represented by a member of the Labor Party. The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has stated that the government is committing an additional $320 million to build a new hospital and ironically, it will not be a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) . It would appear that our painful experience has caused a rethink on PPP.
So, no private public partnership for the people of Shellharbour. Lucky them! We are obviously in the wrong electorate!
Please contact the politicians and tell them just what you think of their betrayal.
Regards
Sue Martin
Secretary
Save Mona Vale Hospital
Donations by direct debit can be made to Save Mona Vale Hospital
BSB: 062211 Account no: 1007 7745
BSB: 062211 Account no: 1007 7745