Major Infrastructure To Benefit Local Health

Minister for Health, Ryan Park toured the infrastructure projects currently underway in Murrumbidgee Local Health District recently, including the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital (GBH) Redevelopment and the $3.7 million Leeton Hospital Upgrade.

“It’s fantastic to see the Leeton Hospital Upgrade nearing completion,” Mr Park said.

“I have no doubt this refurbished health facility will provide an enhanced experience for patients, staff and visitors to the health service.

“The works will deliver an expanded and modernised emergency department, as well as new medical equipment, upgrades to clinical spaces, improvements to the inpatient units and realignments to public and staff access.”

Minister Park said work was also progressing well on the GBH redevelopment, due for completion in 2025.

“I’m also pleased to see main works well underway on the Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, which will ensure the people of Griffith and surrounding communities have access to state-of-the-art facilities closer to home,” Mr Park said.

All major health services at the GBH will eventually be housed under one roof, in the purpose-built three-storey Clinical Services Building designed to support contemporary models of care.

“Murrumbidgee Local Health District is incredibly diverse, with more than 5,000 staff working across 33 hospitals and 12 primary health care centres,” Mr Park said.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with NSW Health’s Regional Health Division to ensure people living in these communities receive the very best health care.”

Before returning to Sydney, Mr Park acknowledged the government needed to do better when it came to rural health and country NSW would be a priority moving forward.

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton said it was wonderful to have a proactive and enthusiastic Minister visit the region.

“I sent Mr Park back to Sydney with an extensive health wish list to improve services for our region,” Mrs Dalton said.

Mrs Dalton said it was unacceptable that the further west you travelled from Sydney, the lower your life expectancy.

“We have had to sit back and watch our health services erode away to the point where our life expectancy is five years less than our mates in the city and it just not good enough.

“I am really hoping a new government will be the start of some much needed change and better rural health outcomes for us all here in the country,” Mrs Dalton said.

Mrs Dalton has been vocal in her support for a demerger of health services away from Murrumbidgee Regional Health District and she was pleased to note the commitment from Mr Park to look into the way health districts operated.

“There is talk of a special commission of inquiry into how health districts and services can be improved and this will be a great outcome for Murray,” Mrs Dalton said.

“We need to put the community back into community health and Griffith Hospital needs its own board and budget so it can make the appropriate health decisions for our region - not based on directives out of Sydney or Wagga.”

Other items on the wish list included recruitment of health professionals directly from GBH to service other hospitals in the electorate, a designated health precinct supported by university research, strong allied health recruitment programs and establishment of a mental health, drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit.

“I want to see Griffith and Deniliquin reinstated as training hospitals for nurses and a focus across Murray on specialised women’s health services,” Mrs Dalton said.

“I remain passionate about health, and I will work alongside the minister and the new government to improve services for us all.”

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• Health & Wellbeing