STATE Opposition Leader John Robertson has pledged $300 million to rebuild St George Hospital, which he described as "almost Third World".
Mr Robertson said it was Labor's biggest capital commitment in health in the run-up to the state election next March.
The pledge will put pressure on the government to provide substantial funding for the project in the state budget on June 17.
Mr Robertson was supported at the announcement by long-time St George residents Betty and Merv Evers and Labor candidates, Chris Minns (Kogarah), O'Bray Smith (Oatley) and Steve Kamper (Rockdale).
A full rebuild of the hospital has been estimated to cost about $700 million.
Labor's pledge would build a "hot floor" above the new $39 million emergency department that would include intensive care, high dependency and cardiac intensive care wards and operating theatres.
Planning is well advanced following an $800,000 funding allocation late last year.
Heath Minister Jillian Skinner said "watch this space" when asked about further funding at last month's community cabinet in Hurstville.
Mr Robertson said if Labor won the election "we would be looking to commence work as quickly as possible".
"My anticipation would be that that stage would be completed by the end of the first [four-year] term," he said.
"As I went around, it became blatantly obvious that it is almost Third World.
"Senior staff told me the layout is completely impractical for a modern-day, contemporary hospital."
Mr Robertson said he had a full tour of the hospital with ministerial approval.
"In [the intensive care unit] they have no capacity to properly isolate patients if they have infectious diseases.
"There is one toilet for 15 beds."
‘‘Some of the facilities look like building site sheds."
‘‘You have what were described to me as some of the best professors in the nation working in, effectively, a site shed.’’
Mr Robertson denied Coalition claims Labor had neglected the hospital during its time in government.
He said there were many improvements but a full rebuild was needed.
Opposition spokesman on health Andrew McDonald said doctors and nurses were doing a remarkable job with ageing infrastructure and increasing demand, but were rapidly reaching their limit.
Is a pledge the same as a promise? What do you think?
