Saffin ‘delighted’ with Grafton hospital announcement
Labor candidate for Page Janelle Saffin says she is delighted with Kevin Rudd’s visit to Grafton hospital to announce an investment of $23 million dollars in health services.
Ms Saffin says $18 million will go to urgently needed upgrades of the emergency department and operating theatres at Grafton Base Hospital, with another $5 million for a GP Super Clinic in Grafton to take pressure off the hospital’s emergency department, which has 26,000 presentations a year.
” I have spoken to thousands of people on this issue, and I know the community has been crying out for action to fix the crisis at Grafton Base Hospital, ” Ms Saffin said.
“After 11 years of inaction from John Howard and the Nationals, this announcement means we can look forward to major improvements to Grafton’s health services.
“Kevin Rudd and Federal Labor are committed to working co-operatively with the State Government to help the health system respond to the community’s needs. This will see an end to the blame shifting and cost-shifting between State and Federal Governments that now goes on.
“This announcement for Grafton is part of Federal Labor’s $2.5 billion plan to reform the hospital and health services, and its strong commitment to improving rural health services.”
Meanwhile, Page Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis said a Labor election promise to match the Coalition’s $18 million grant to rescue Grafton Hospital from Labor neglect would probably never be delivered.
“The difference between the two policies is that we want to give the money to Grafton, through a community-owned hospital board, while Mr Rudd wants to give it to his Labor mates in Sydney and hope for the best,” Mr Gulaptis said.
Mr Gulaptis said there was ample evidence this approach didn’t work.
“The Feds gave NSW Labor $12 million in 2001 to build the Alstonville bypass and $8 million in 2004 to build the cancer treatment unit at Lismore Hospital,” he said.
“The Sydney Labor Government has yet to deliver on either project. Local residents are sick of Labor’s broken election promises like Bob Carr’s “cast iron guarantee” to build a new bridge in Grafton which is yet to begin.
“The PM’s $18 million was announced before the election. It is better than a promise. The money is on the table now. All that is needed is for Morris Iemma to authorise the formation of a Local Hospital Board and we can start work tomorrow.
“The fact that the Chair of the Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee, Shirley Adams, OAM, wasn’t even invited to Mr Rudd’s Grafton Hospital announcement today shows the contempt Labor holds for the local community.”
