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14 July 2008 Services to expand while planning continues for new Tamworth Hospital
NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher today reassured staff and the local community that planning for a new Tamworth Hospital is progressing well and on track. Ms Meagher said the Tamworth Health Services Plan, which determines what clinical services will be delivered in the new hospital, is in the final stages of preparation. “Hunter New England Health has conducted extensive consultation and research in its preparation of the Tamworth Health Services Plan, and just last week NSW Health provided its feedback to the Area Health Service,” Ms Meagher said. “This plan will now form the basis of the Service Procurement Plan and Project Definition Plan - the blueprints that will take the new hospital from the concept stage to reality.” Ms Meagher said the Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has been a strong supporter of his local community in campaigning for a new hospital. “Peter Draper has made a number of representations on behalf of the Tamworth community and has passed on community concern about the planning process,” Ms Meagher said. “Planning a hospital as important and complex as Tamworth Hospital is a significant task and one we need to get right: this new hospital needs to meet the demands of the growing and changing population well into the future.” Ms Meagher said tenders are expected to be called next month to appoint a Project Director for the next stage of the development. “The Project Director will be responsible for finalising the next stages of planning for the hospital and, importantly, for making sure local doctors, nurses and other health staff have a say in the project from the planning stages right through to final sign-off. “The Iemma Government made a commitment that work on the new Tamworth Hospital would commence in this term of Government and I am determined to see that happen.” Ms Meagher said while planning for the new Tamworth Hospital is continuing the Iemma Government is investing an additional $1.48 million to expand services at the existing hospital. “Finalising the planning process for the new hospital is an absolute priority,” Ms Meagher said. “But while that planning continues, we’re investing in new programs and expanded services to ensure we continue to provide high quality healthcare for the people of Tamworth.” Visiting Tamworth Hospital today, Ms Meagher met with Director of Intensive Care Dr Chris Trethewy and Medical Emergency Team and Retrieval Co-ordinator Fiona Ellicott to hear how $250,000 allocated in this year’s Health Budget will enhance the capacity of the Tamworth Retrieval Service. “The Tamworth Retrieval Service has been providing a life-saving service to the northern NSW since the 1970s and the sophistication of the service has grown with the increasing demand over that time,” Ms Meagher said. “The service has undertaken about 250 retrievals in the past two years, including 42 already this year to transfer people suffering critical illness and injury to Tamworth Hospital for high level care. “The $250,000 investment will allow the service to respond to more night-time missions and undertake retrievals from a wider area.” Key investment in Tamworth Hospital in the 2008-09 Health Budget includes:
For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au |
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