THE South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Board has recommended the redevelopment of Sutherland Hospital takes priority over the rebuilding of St George Hospital.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner appeared to support the view, which shocked senior doctors at St George Hospital and had the potential to drive a wedge between two closely linked communities.
Cronulla MP Mark Speakman was unapologetic for "fighting for detailed planning for Sutherland Hospital to be at the head of queue".
"If St George and other hospitals can join it, that would be very welcome, but the government's challenges are the $30 billion infrastructure backlog and $55 billion net debt inherited from Labor," he said.
An emergency meeting of the St George Hospital medical staff council called for the local health board to review its priorities and advise the minister of the "dire situation" at St George.
The proposed St George Hospital project is a staged $700 million rebuild, which would include a purpose-built critical care floor, operating suites, general ward and outpatients departments.
Sutherland Hospital supporters are seeking a new emergency department, general ward and other facilities at a cost of $62 million.
Mrs Skinner said during the federal election campaign she had met St George Hospital doctors.
She said the state government had committed $39million to rebuilding the emergency department and further redevelopment would be considered in the future capital works.
‘‘The recommendation of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Board, which is based on advice from the district’s clinical and quality council, is that the redevelopment of Sutherland Hospital must come first,’’ she said.
‘‘This will enable patients who could be treated at Sutherland Hospital to stay at Sutherland instead of being treated at St George Hospital, thus relieving demand on St George.’’
ST GEORGE GETS BUSIER
Associate Professor Theresa Jacques, chairman of St George Hospital Medical Staff Council and director of its intensive care department, said twice as many trauma patients were admitted to the unit in August this year compared with last year.
‘‘Offloading patients to Sutherland is not the answer to St George Hospital’s infrastructure deficits,’’ she said.
‘‘We know St George is in the right place. We need the right infrastructure.
‘‘The senior medical staff are worried and believe the [health board] who had not seen the state of our hospital prior to signing off on priorities for capital works should urgently review the priorities and advise the minister of the dire situation at St George urgently.’’
Which project do you think should come first?