- LIVES WILL BE LOST -
EMERGENCY, SURGERY, MATERNITY AND ALL ACUTE SERVICES
AT MONA VALE HOSPITAL MUST BE REOPENED
Save Mona Vale Hospital Campaign Update
6 January 2019
A New Year – and with it, the fight to reopen Emergency, Surgery, Maternity and other acute services at Mona Vale will continue with renewed vigour.
Wednesday 12 December 2018
The protest outside Health Minister Hazzard’s office was well attended and loudly supported by the blaring horns of passing cars and trucks. Channel 7 sent a reporter and cameraman.
We suspect that Mr Hazzard turned up unexpectedly because his staff were alarmed by the size and success of the protest and the enthusiastic support of passers-by. The ongoing pressure of the campaign might have had something to do with it, also!
The protest outside Health Minister Hazzard’s office was well attended and loudly supported by the blaring horns of passing cars and trucks. Channel 7 sent a reporter and cameraman.
We suspect that Mr Hazzard turned up unexpectedly because his staff were alarmed by the size and success of the protest and the enthusiastic support of passers-by. The ongoing pressure of the campaign might have had something to do with it, also!
We had a small victory as Mr Hazzard announced that the government will restore imaging and snake bite treatment to the facility. He said “if there turn out to be more things that are needed in that Urgent Care Centre, of course we will look at that and try to get that delivered as well”.
The problem remains that our hospital can no longer deal with common medical problems.
The State Government has closed Emergency, Surgery, Maternity, Paediatrics and other acute services.
Our hospital has lost its advanced resuscitation facilities, operating theatres and maternity unit.
The statistics on the NSW Health Department website
https://www.myhospitals.gov.au/ demonstrate the need for acute services at Mona Vale Hospital.
Of 35,033 presentations to Mona Vale Hospital in the Year 2016-17:
· 143 needed immediate resuscitation
· 4,729 needed help within 10 minutes for life-threatening conditions
· and another 12,588 needed to be seen within 30 minutes.
Prior to the opening of Mona Vale Hospital in 1964, a number of patients did not make it to Manly Hospital, the nearest hospital. The number of Dead on Arrivals from north of Narrabeen decreased significantly upon the opening of Mona Vale Hospital.
The importance to the community of full acute services at Mona Vale Hospital is certainly demonstrated by the numbers attending its opening in 1964.
As the Manly Daily of Thursday 27 February 1964 reported:
A crowd estimated by police at over 20,000 attended the official opening last Saturday of Mona Vale Hospital by the Minister for Health Mr W.H. Sheehan.
This is significantly more that the numbers who celebrated the opening of the Frenchs Forest Hospital!
Friday 7 December 2018
The North Sydney Local Area Health Annual Public Meeting was well attended by supporters of the Save Mona Vale Hospital Campaign. There was limited time for questions and so Parry Thomas, Chair of the Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee, tabled a series of questions. NSLAH will meet with Parry in early January to address the issues raised.
Parry reported that:
How can you help to campaign to reopen the acute services at our hospital?
1. Mark on your calendar 5 February 2019
Come to the Public Protest Meeting on Tuesday 5 February at 7.00 pm in Pittwater RSL.
The Government is now preparing for the State Election on 24 March 2019. Your attendance at the meeting in what has been a safe Liberal seat should give them cause to rethink their treatment of people on the northern beaches.
Remember Tuesday 5 February 7.00 pm in the Pittwater RSL.
2. Help with our letterbox drop.
We have printed 25,000 flyers. We need walkers to distribute from Palm Beach to Narrabeen and further south if possible.
If you can spare a few hours to help raise awareness of this life or death matter for our community and promote attendance at the Public Protest Meeting, please contact Ally and Peter Bosley by mobile 0423 246 989 giving your name and area for letterboxing.
If you do not have a mobile, please email [email protected] indicating name and preferred area.
The problem remains that our hospital can no longer deal with common medical problems.
The State Government has closed Emergency, Surgery, Maternity, Paediatrics and other acute services.
Our hospital has lost its advanced resuscitation facilities, operating theatres and maternity unit.
The statistics on the NSW Health Department website
https://www.myhospitals.gov.au/ demonstrate the need for acute services at Mona Vale Hospital.
Of 35,033 presentations to Mona Vale Hospital in the Year 2016-17:
· 143 needed immediate resuscitation
· 4,729 needed help within 10 minutes for life-threatening conditions
· and another 12,588 needed to be seen within 30 minutes.
Prior to the opening of Mona Vale Hospital in 1964, a number of patients did not make it to Manly Hospital, the nearest hospital. The number of Dead on Arrivals from north of Narrabeen decreased significantly upon the opening of Mona Vale Hospital.
The importance to the community of full acute services at Mona Vale Hospital is certainly demonstrated by the numbers attending its opening in 1964.
As the Manly Daily of Thursday 27 February 1964 reported:
A crowd estimated by police at over 20,000 attended the official opening last Saturday of Mona Vale Hospital by the Minister for Health Mr W.H. Sheehan.
This is significantly more that the numbers who celebrated the opening of the Frenchs Forest Hospital!
Friday 7 December 2018
The North Sydney Local Area Health Annual Public Meeting was well attended by supporters of the Save Mona Vale Hospital Campaign. There was limited time for questions and so Parry Thomas, Chair of the Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee, tabled a series of questions. NSLAH will meet with Parry in early January to address the issues raised.
Parry reported that:
- staff are being transferred from RNSH to assist at NBH
- a shortage of anaesthetists has resulted in cancellation of theatre time
- despite Mr Hazzard’s assertion that NBH is a public hospital, Healthscope have refused requests for information citing it is a private issue.
How can you help to campaign to reopen the acute services at our hospital?
1. Mark on your calendar 5 February 2019
Come to the Public Protest Meeting on Tuesday 5 February at 7.00 pm in Pittwater RSL.
The Government is now preparing for the State Election on 24 March 2019. Your attendance at the meeting in what has been a safe Liberal seat should give them cause to rethink their treatment of people on the northern beaches.
Remember Tuesday 5 February 7.00 pm in the Pittwater RSL.
2. Help with our letterbox drop.
We have printed 25,000 flyers. We need walkers to distribute from Palm Beach to Narrabeen and further south if possible.
If you can spare a few hours to help raise awareness of this life or death matter for our community and promote attendance at the Public Protest Meeting, please contact Ally and Peter Bosley by mobile 0423 246 989 giving your name and area for letterboxing.
If you do not have a mobile, please email [email protected] indicating name and preferred area.
3. Sponsorship
We have been most appreciative of the generosity of many of our donors. This has enabled us to pay for liability insurance at our events and also printing costs, the most recent being the printing of 25,000 flyers.
If you know anyone or any business that would like to provide sponsorship for our campaign, please contact Sue Martin, Secretary of SMVHC on [email protected].
The name of the person or organisation will be acknowledged at the relevant event or on the relevant publication. Save Mona Vale Hospital BSB: 062211 Account no: 1007 7745
4. Keep the Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee informed
Thank you to the many people who have forwarded to us the responses received from their local politicians. Many of the responses are, of course, almost identical.
We also need all reports of the experiences of people either at the Urgent Care Centre or the Frenchs Forest Hospital.
You may be interested in this recent experience of local residents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWv7sRI9Rww&t=5s
Recently, Mr Falinski, Federal MP for Mackellar, stated “There is little doubt that despite many alarmist and plainly untrue statements made by some opponents, the new hospital is a major improvement to our health facilities on the Northern Beaches. Given my entire family lives here, I would not accept anything less.”
Mr Stokes, State MP for Pittwater, has claimed that “the central building at Mona Vale Hospital is at the end of its serviceable life.”
Mr Stokes’ claim is debatable in light of what has been said by Jeff Conen after a recent inspection of the building. He was the Contract Manager for TC Whittle, the firm that built the hospital. Jeff said, “the only reason you could justify pulling this building down would be to build a bigger and better hospital.”
It is interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that in many other electorates, hospital buildings such as Royal Prince Alfred and Bankstown hospitals, both far older than Mona Vale’s central building, are considered suitable for refurbishment and renovation.
We have been most appreciative of the generosity of many of our donors. This has enabled us to pay for liability insurance at our events and also printing costs, the most recent being the printing of 25,000 flyers.
If you know anyone or any business that would like to provide sponsorship for our campaign, please contact Sue Martin, Secretary of SMVHC on [email protected].
The name of the person or organisation will be acknowledged at the relevant event or on the relevant publication. Save Mona Vale Hospital BSB: 062211 Account no: 1007 7745
4. Keep the Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee informed
Thank you to the many people who have forwarded to us the responses received from their local politicians. Many of the responses are, of course, almost identical.
We also need all reports of the experiences of people either at the Urgent Care Centre or the Frenchs Forest Hospital.
You may be interested in this recent experience of local residents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWv7sRI9Rww&t=5s
Recently, Mr Falinski, Federal MP for Mackellar, stated “There is little doubt that despite many alarmist and plainly untrue statements made by some opponents, the new hospital is a major improvement to our health facilities on the Northern Beaches. Given my entire family lives here, I would not accept anything less.”
Mr Stokes, State MP for Pittwater, has claimed that “the central building at Mona Vale Hospital is at the end of its serviceable life.”
Mr Stokes’ claim is debatable in light of what has been said by Jeff Conen after a recent inspection of the building. He was the Contract Manager for TC Whittle, the firm that built the hospital. Jeff said, “the only reason you could justify pulling this building down would be to build a bigger and better hospital.”
It is interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that in many other electorates, hospital buildings such as Royal Prince Alfred and Bankstown hospitals, both far older than Mona Vale’s central building, are considered suitable for refurbishment and renovation.
The Mona Vale Hospital Main Building is suitable for refurbishment and renovation
to make it once again a Level 3 Hospital
to make it once again a Level 3 Hospital
The campaign continues!! Please forward this newsletter update to concerned friends and family.
Regards
Sue Martin
Secretary
Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee
https://www.facebook.com/SaveMonaValeHospital/
Regards
Sue Martin
Secretary
Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee
https://www.facebook.com/SaveMonaValeHospital/
Download the Flyer
reopen_mona_vale_hospital_public_rally_5_feb_2019_pittwater_rsl.pdf | |
File Size: | 971 kb |
File Type: |