Page 49 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 7 April 1992
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MR BERRY: The obstetricians do not like the birthing centre, or not all of them, either. The completion of the $3.5m purpose-built psychiatry unit at Woden Valley Hospital is also another landmark. This part of the project was completed in record time, within budget and with a minimum of industrial delays.
Mr De Domenico: I hope the bus drivers read this.
MR BERRY: I did invite them to the opening of that, and they misbehaved. I remember that clearly. As part of the hospitals redevelopment project, Calvary Public Hospital has been refurbished at a cost of $3.3m. The emergency department has been extended, providing a 24-hour emergency service, and the critical care area has been renovated to support the hospital's expanded role. There have been major renovations in the radiology department, including the installation of a new CT scanner. Obstetrics facilities have also been upgraded and maternity services have also been extended at Calvary. A day surgery unit will be completed this year, to improve the quality of facilities and care in this important and growing area of service.
New purpose-designed child-care facilities have been built adjacent to the Woden Valley and Calvary hospitals, and places are now available for staff and local residents. The hospitals redevelopment program will take several years to complete.
Construction of the 14,350-square-metre diagnostic and treatment building began in October 1991 and will be completed on target in November 1993. The building will cost $35.7m to construct and will house medical imaging, including radiology and nuclear medicine, a new high-tech emergency department, medical records, day surgery and a transfusion laboratory. There will be state-of-the-art operating rooms, an intensive care unit and a high dependency unit. These new facilities will be equal to the best in Australia.
The tower block at Woden Valley Hospital, which contains the main ward areas of the hospital, is being refurbished in two stages to match facilities to be provided in the new diagnostic and treatment building. Refurbishment of the tower block is being carried out over several years to match other works in the program. Stage one will cost $15.2m and stage two will cost $19.4m. Construction costs for the entire ACT public hospital redevelopment project are, as I have said, $171.2m in June 1991 prices and the project is scheduled for completion in 1997.
Canberra needs a strong public health system. That is not something that could have been guaranteed under the Liberals and they have made it very clear that they intend to privatise where possible. It would have fallen apart if we had been left with that Government, because of their inability merely to manage the finances of the hospital, let alone provide services. Labor will achieve this with careful management and detailed forward planning. A 10-year plan for community health in the ACT is a high priority. This Government is committed to the people of the ACT enjoying the best possible health facilities, and no community health centre will be closed during this term of government.
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