THIS LETTER FROM ROB STOKES ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY THE DEMOlition OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF MONA VALE HOSPITAL
Rob Stokes
Pittwater MP
26 June 2018
Mr Philip Charles Walker
184 Warriewood Road
MONA VALE NSW 2103
Dear Mr Walker,
Thank you for your further email regarding your recent request with the NSW Ministry of Health and the ongoing introduction of new hospital infrastructure at Mona Vale Hospital.
As referred to in my earlier correspondence, NSW Health Infrastructure oversees the condition, durability and functionality of all NSW Government hospital buildings across NSW. This also includes hospital buildings that are incurring significant maintenance costs and/or are no longer suitable for contemporary medical use.
I understand you have been provided with multiple documents by the NSW Ministry of Health outlining structural issues and remedial works undertaken in recent years in an effort to help extend the functional life of Mona Vale Hospital's central building.
As referred to in those documents, in 2010 cyclone fences and exclusion zones were required to be placed around the perimeter of the building to help prevent against injury from falling debris. I note your advice that the NSW Ministry of Health has no further building report/s to provide you, or they are assessed as containing confidential information. I do not have any such report/s.
As mentioned in my earlier correspondence, I support NSW Health Infrastructure's ongoing program to renew Mona Vale Hospital's infrastructure and deliver modern health facilities for local residents. Whilst we all have personal connections to the hospital's existing central building, I believe it is appropriate and desirable for future services at Mona Vale Hospital to be provided in new, purposely designed hospital buildings.
As you are aware, prior to 2011 there was no confirmed future for Mona Vale Hospital. However, since the change of government in 2011 we have seen the commencement of the largest ever infrastructure investment at Mona Vale Hospital.
This has already resulted in the built footprint of Mona Vale Hospital expanding considerably. Projects completed since 2011 have included the construction of a new inpatient rehabilitation building, new community health service building, expanded palliative care outpatient building, new Short Stay Unit, renovation of the Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit and the refurbishment of the hydrotherapy pool building.
As you are aware, work will soon commence on the next phase of major infrastructure additions at Mona Vale Hospital. This will further expand the built footprint of Mona Vale Hospital and will include the construction of another new inpatient building to accommodate a specialist Inpatient Palliative Care Unit (the first of its type on the northern beaches) and a new Inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit.
We will also see the construction of a new hospital support services building and the renovation of the existing emergency building to accommodate a new Urgent Care Centre and associated services.
As previously advised, NSW Health Infrastructure is also undertaking planning works for the construction of a new on-campus ambulance facility.
Very importantly, in stark difference to the uncertainty Mona Vale Hospital faced prior to 2011, we have now ensured more than 250 hospital employees (including doctors, nurses, physios, specialists and support staff) will continue to work at Mona Vale Hospital and we have secured the entire hospital campus in public ownership for service additions in the future.
Yours sincerely,
ROB STOKES MP
MEMBER FOR PITTWATER
Pittwater MP
26 June 2018
Mr Philip Charles Walker
184 Warriewood Road
MONA VALE NSW 2103
Dear Mr Walker,
Thank you for your further email regarding your recent request with the NSW Ministry of Health and the ongoing introduction of new hospital infrastructure at Mona Vale Hospital.
As referred to in my earlier correspondence, NSW Health Infrastructure oversees the condition, durability and functionality of all NSW Government hospital buildings across NSW. This also includes hospital buildings that are incurring significant maintenance costs and/or are no longer suitable for contemporary medical use.
I understand you have been provided with multiple documents by the NSW Ministry of Health outlining structural issues and remedial works undertaken in recent years in an effort to help extend the functional life of Mona Vale Hospital's central building.
As referred to in those documents, in 2010 cyclone fences and exclusion zones were required to be placed around the perimeter of the building to help prevent against injury from falling debris. I note your advice that the NSW Ministry of Health has no further building report/s to provide you, or they are assessed as containing confidential information. I do not have any such report/s.
As mentioned in my earlier correspondence, I support NSW Health Infrastructure's ongoing program to renew Mona Vale Hospital's infrastructure and deliver modern health facilities for local residents. Whilst we all have personal connections to the hospital's existing central building, I believe it is appropriate and desirable for future services at Mona Vale Hospital to be provided in new, purposely designed hospital buildings.
As you are aware, prior to 2011 there was no confirmed future for Mona Vale Hospital. However, since the change of government in 2011 we have seen the commencement of the largest ever infrastructure investment at Mona Vale Hospital.
This has already resulted in the built footprint of Mona Vale Hospital expanding considerably. Projects completed since 2011 have included the construction of a new inpatient rehabilitation building, new community health service building, expanded palliative care outpatient building, new Short Stay Unit, renovation of the Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit and the refurbishment of the hydrotherapy pool building.
As you are aware, work will soon commence on the next phase of major infrastructure additions at Mona Vale Hospital. This will further expand the built footprint of Mona Vale Hospital and will include the construction of another new inpatient building to accommodate a specialist Inpatient Palliative Care Unit (the first of its type on the northern beaches) and a new Inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit.
We will also see the construction of a new hospital support services building and the renovation of the existing emergency building to accommodate a new Urgent Care Centre and associated services.
As previously advised, NSW Health Infrastructure is also undertaking planning works for the construction of a new on-campus ambulance facility.
Very importantly, in stark difference to the uncertainty Mona Vale Hospital faced prior to 2011, we have now ensured more than 250 hospital employees (including doctors, nurses, physios, specialists and support staff) will continue to work at Mona Vale Hospital and we have secured the entire hospital campus in public ownership for service additions in the future.
Yours sincerely,
ROB STOKES MP
MEMBER FOR PITTWATER
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