THE role played by senior doctors and the community in making St George Hospital's new emergency department a reality has largely been overlooked in the fanfare around its completion.
In fact, it could be easily forgotten that six years ago the state government was on the verge of downgrading the unit.
The 2008 Garling inquiry into acute care services in NSW public hospitals recommended St George be cut from the list of major trauma centres.
It was only after a campaign by senior doctors and the community that the proposal was dumped by then health minister John Della Bosca.
Kogarah MP Cherie Burton, who lobbied the minister, said at the time clinicians and the community deserved the accolades for the victory.
Adam Chan, who had been the emergency department head for nearly two decades at that time, was the quiet achiever in the campaign.
He and his colleagues also pushed for a new, much larger emergency department after the 2010 state budget allocated just $10 million for an upgrade.
After concluding upgrade options would not meet future needs, the doctors came up with a $30 million plan to build a new unit around the corner from the old department that would also have scope for further levels to be added in the future.
Dr Chan took it to the Health Department and Ms Burton shortly before the 2011 election.
Premier Kristina Keneally, who was trailing badly in the polls, embraced the plan and pledged an extra $20 million.
The promise met with a luke-warm response from Jillian Skinner, the Opposition's then spokeswoman on health, who said it was an unfunded commitment.
Mrs Skinner said she would be happy to receive a submission from clinicians but, if the Coalition formed government, the proposal would have to be assessed by an independent panel of experts for prioritisation. However, shortly before the election, Mrs Skinner and the then Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell matched Labor's promise.
Mrs Skinner explained that, after speaking with doctors and nurses, it was decided the upgrade needed to happen as quickly as possible.
"Quite simply, it couldn't wait," she said.
Dr Chan resigned as director of emergency department in 2011 after 21 years in that position, but remains a senior staff specialist.
He was replaced by Dr Trevor Chan, who brought the $39 million project to fruition.
Have you needed the new emergency department, and what do you think of it?
