Page 1624 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 May 1990
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The simple fact of the matter is that we have to economise, especially on major items of expenditure. We have to provide the best possible facilities in the best way and the most cost-effective way. I think Mr Humphries should be commended for his very detailed efforts and study of what is indeed best for the Canberra community in terms of health care, what will provide the best health services at the best cost considering all available options. What he has come up with as a result of a lot of consultation, a lot of effort and a lot of work, which goes back over a number of years, is a blueprint to take us into the twenty-first century.
I can understand the emotion in some circles in Canberra in relation to Royal Canberra Hospital. Royal Canberra Hospital has been with us for a number of years. That building was put up in the forties. It must have been, because I was born there in 1952. However, we have to move on to bigger and better things. It is an old building. It is to be utilised for health facilities, as Mr Humphries has indicated. It is not going to become a 40-storey casino, as some in the Labor Party might have the community believe. As I think Dr Kinloch indicated, there are problems with fire standards and asbestos. It is certainly the oldest of our hospitals, and one has to look at what is best for health in Canberra.
We have three current hospitals. We have Woden Valley, which is ideally suited close to the geographical centre of Canberra. Indeed, the Phillip area is very close to the geographical centre of Canberra, and Woden Valley therefore is ideally placed to become our principal hospital. The hospital was built in the 1970s. We also, of course, have Calvary Hospital which it is proposed will be upgraded. Indeed that magnificent and indeed most recent of our hospitals with its very good facilities is rather underutilised at present. Perhaps it is unfortunate that Calvary Hospital was not built somewhere near Giralang or Kaleen. That would have probably been much more efficient when we look at Gungahlin which is going to come on stream. But, when we are talking about two hospitals in the ACT, Calvary and Woden Valley are quite well suited and situated.
I am delighted - and indeed a number of people in the community have contacted me about this - that the Royal Canberra Hospital will remain as a health facility. Indeed, this Government is committed to providing a birthing centre facility there, a hospice facility - and we all know how much those would cost, but we do have a great facility there already which can be utilised for that - and a convalescent centre. That is, indeed, a very good use for this building.
There are various costs involved in upgrading our health system, and it does have to be upgraded and it will be upgraded. Mr Humphries has indicated that the cost of this
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