Public Health First lobby NSW Health Minister Ryan Park on broken Bowral and District Hospital promise

In a letter the group told Mr Park: "It would appear that the major redevelopment promised is now defunct."

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The committee members have vigorously campaigned for not only the building of a new hospital in Bowral but also for the inclusion of an Emergency Department within Stage One of the new development.

"At a public meeting in Bowral in 2017 the CEO of South West Sydney Local Area Health [SWSLAH], Amanda Larkin, and Health Infrastructure project manager, Stephen Hall, unveiled the future plans for our local hospital," PHF spokesperson Edna Carmichael said.

"It was a three-stage build in response to the SWSLAH's Clinical Services Plan [CSP]."

In the letter Ms Carmichael on behalf of PHF says Mr Park has endorsed a project that's not what was originally promised to the community.

"It has not been through a consultation process with this community and does not meet the needs of this community as defined in the 2017 CSP for Bowral and District Hospital," Ms Carmichael said.

The letter went on to quote extracts from a recent NSW Government media release announcing that construction was underway on the $55 million Bowral and District Hospital Stage Two Redevelopment.

ALSO READ: Bowral and District Hospital responds to Public Health First redevelopment questions

"This is partly correct but the government budget papers indicated that prior to 2023 $21.4 million had already been allocated and an estimated $15.361 million was spent to June 2022," Ms Carmichael said.

"PHF would like to know what this money has been spent on?"

The group also disputes a statement by Mr Park that Stage Two will provide the Highlands community with expanded clinical services and the capacity to meet future healthcare needs.

"Cardiac assessment appears to be the only expanded services and only one of four new services that Stage Two was to originally deliver," Ms Carmichael said.

"Added to that is the lack of increased beds required to meet future healthcare needs - as per the 2017 CSP - which was estimated to be 109 beds in 2021 and 129 beds by 2026."

The same NSW Government media release said the community was encouraged to have their say on the Stage Two redevelopment at information sessions held on April 26.

"It was impossible when the project was already underway," Ms Carmichael said.

"This is not consultation it is bureaucracy. PHF would like to see any updated CSP as it was our scrutiny of an earlier plan made available to the public in 2017 that saw the revised in November 2017 CSP.

"This drove the entire redevelopment and in fact deemed some of the buildings that are now being renovated 'not fit for purpose' for 21^st century clinical needs," she said.

PHF took umbrage at a statement claiming the Stage Two redevelopment includs a new and expanded renal dialysis unit, pharmacy and sterilising department.

The NSW Government media release said construction of these services was already completed and that they were available to the community.

"The 'new' renal unit is housed within the old hospital and the funding for this was via a $750,000 community trust. There are currently six chairs and no plans to increase this number," Ms Carmichael said.

"Without community commitment and generosity this unit would still not exist as it was to be part of Stage Two - a personal promise made by the then NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

"Apart from this, pharmacy and sterilising was already established within Stage One. Funding for this has been via Stage Two but a lack of transparency prevents further investigation of costs," she said.

PHF claim the Stage Two renovation of the Milton Park building currently underway refutes the NSW Government promise: "Stage Two redevelopment is being completed in stages."

"If Stage Two, the renovation of Milton Park goes ahead as is presently planned and being executed ... there will be no expansion in the future on this present site," Ms Carmichael said.

"The redevelopment as approved by NSW Health and Health Infrastructure requires the Milton Park building to be demolished to provide the land to accommodate further development."

According to PHF the NSW Labor Party in 2008 determined that the hospital needed to expand. In 2015 and 2019 the NSW Government engaged in "pork barrelling" with commitments of $50 million and then $55 million towards the redevelopment.

According to PHF the 2021 census found 28 per cent of Wingecarribee residents were aged over 65 years compared with 17.7 per cent across NSW.

"The estimated population of Wingecarribee by 2030 will be close to 60,000 and the 2021 census listed the Highlands as above the state statistics for health conditions including arthritis, asthma, cancer, heart, lung, mental health, stroke and long-term illness," Ms Carmichael said.

PHF is committed to doing everything possible to deliver what was originally promised to this community, according to Ms Carmichael.

"Our community has a long history of supporting its hospital," she said.

The community group called on Mr Park to "stay" the current redevelopment.

"Investigate why this community is not getting the three staged development that was planned, approved and needed to service our community for the next 20 years," Ms Carmichael said. "And commit to the 2018 redevelopment and not a renovation."

They also want Mr Park to visit the site to better understand the lack of beds and suitable medical and surgical facilities.

"Work with our community in providing better health care as promised by your government in the recent election," Ms Carmichael said. "And facilitate a public meeting held by SWSLHD to expound this questionable process."

Southern Highland News approached Mr Park for a response.

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