NSW Nationals Leader John Barilaro and Member for Tweed Geoff Provest visited the confirmed site of the new $582 million Tweed Valley Hospital this week with a message that the Nationals in Government are getting on with ensuring the Tweed community have access to world class healthcare and more health services when the new hospital is delivered in 2023.
Deputy Premier Barilaro said Mr Provest had been going to extraordinary lengths to ensure medical professionals were having a high level of input into the services at the new hospital.
“During a meeting late last year arranged by Geoff Provest between the Tweed Hospital Medical Staff Council (MSC) and Health Minister Brad Hazzard, it became clear that we can do more for our community,” Mr Barilaro said. “Doctors from the MSC raised a number of issues and Minister Hazzard took them on board and promised to come back with answers. The MSC outlined how access to a PET-CT machine would assist patients dealing with cancer – and now the district are reviewing how a PET-CT suite can be incorporated into the new hospital.”
Mr Provest said another issue doctors raised was the possibility of including a sleep lab for patients suffering from respiratory difficulties.
“Because of the input from our local medical professionals a location for a sleep lab is being considered in a health hub at the new hospital,” Mr Provest said. “With our region and therefore health services growing the MSC in liaison with the project team have agreed to an increase for pathology services to 900m² – that’s more than triple the space pathology services has in the existing Tweed Hospital. Finally, discussions are continuing between all parties about the number of bed spaces in the new hospital.”
“So while Labor attempts to delay our new hospital and essential health services we deserve, the Nationals are talking with doctors and professionals to ensure our new hospital provides healthcare that our community so rightly deserves.”
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest
