Labor has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the next state election, promising a $370 million upgrade to Nepean Hospital.
Blue Mountains MP said the Baird Government has “neglected the Blue Mountains and western Sydney for far too long”.
“The Blue Mountains community won’t keep taking second best from Mike Baird. This Sunday the community let the government know just how frustrated they are.”
Labor’s Lindsay MP Emma Husar slammed the NSW government’s "paltry" $1 million pledge in its budget for the hospital's development planning.
The Blue Mountains community won’t keep taking second best from Mike Baird.
- Trish Doyle
“We know what needs to be done, the studies have been done and they committed the money in the last election but we didn’t get a cent,” Ms Husar said.
“We have crumbling roofs in operating suites and it isn’t good enough.”
Labor promised the multi-million dollar upgrade during a rally held at the hospital on Sunday.
The ‘Save Nepean Hospital’ rally attracted more than 200 community members who attended the hospital to show their support.
NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley announced the upgrade, saying it would include an enhanced cancer centre, new birthing suites, an improved emergency department as well as better renal, cardiology and neurology services.
Ms Husar also countered the state government adding an extra $39.4 million increase to the hospital’s budget, stating the money did not meet the growing population’s demand.
“Nepean is the only hospital out here to serve the whole area,” Ms Husar said.
However NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner has countered the Opposition saying Labor “put the cart before the horse when it promised an upgrade of Nepean Hospital without doing any planning.”
“In our first term of government we delivered a $139 million upgrade to Nepean Hospital,” Ms Skinner said.
“Additionally we funded a new, $20 million multi-storey car park. In our second term we are delivering on our 2015 election commitment to plan a major redevelopment of Nepean Hospital.
“We are investing $4 million to complete planning. Following this planning, the government will announce significant funds for the major redevelopment.”
