ACM are currently running the headline "The $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital masterplan includes money for upgrading the existing Moruya Hospital". They report that a Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson has advised that in the coming months, Moruya Hospital is receiving several upgrades, including an undercover vehicle ambulance bay, additional resuscitation and consulting spaces for patients and double the amount of treatment spaces in the emergency department. "The expanded Moruya ED is part of the $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital redevelopment," the spokesperson said. That comment has raised questions around just how much of a budget is being allocated to such improvements and what might be the consequences of taking that money away from the Regional Hospital budget. In response the Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland told The Beagle: "I was the primary petitioner of the 2018 petition to the NSW Minister for Health.
More than 3000 signatories requested;
1 – Provision of immediate improvement to the Accident & Emergency, Critical and Perioperative services of the Eurobodalla Shire by funding and upgrading the existing infrastructure and workforce
2 – Commitment to the funding, planning and building of one new regional hospital for the Eurobodalla Shire, located at a site providing equitable accessibility for the people of the Eurobodalla, which will provide medical services equal to those of the Regional and Base Hospitals within the Southern NSW Local Health District
It is satisfying to see that, after 4 years, the first request is nearly completed and that finally work is anticipated to commence before the end of the term of the current NSW Government in March 2023.
The initial funding of $150 million announced in October 2018 was evidently insufficient to provide a new level 4 regional hospital for the Eurobodalla and through the support of the community, I was able to advocate for an increase in funding by $50 million in June 2020 and a further $60 million in November 2021.
I believe that my constituents in the Eurobodalla community have the right and expectation to be informed of how much of the budget is being spent on the current improvement to Emergency and Close Observation services.
They should also be informed whether the $20 million for a proposed HealthOne facility at Batemans Bay and the $15 million for healthcare worker accommodation will also be subtracted from the $260 million commitment to the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital".
