AS they say, a week’s a long time in politics and over the past seven days it has been raining dollars for Singleton with $7 million committed to upgrade our hospital plus a pledge of $92m to kickstart the bypass project.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For our community the upcoming state election has certainly resulted in the coalition government opening the purse strings.
And, that is good news because let us never forget half a billion dollars’ worth of royalties left our local government area during the 2012-13 financial year.
On Thursday the Baird government announced they will invest $7 million from the Hunter Infrastructure & Investment Fund (HIIF) to improve Singleton Hospital.
The upgrade includes a new facility to house imaging, renal dialysis, ambulatory care and primary health care facilities.
NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said planning and construction will start on the project if the NSW Liberals and Nationals government is re-elected on March 28.
“This upgrade to Singleton Hospital will enhance the health care provided locally to ensure it can meet the needs of local patients well into the future,” she said.
“The investment will enable the expansion and refurbishment of the existing x-ray department, the addition of new imaging facilities, the expansion of renal dialysis services and the relocation of community health into hospital.”
Describing the announcement as “fantastic”, Singleton Hospital’s health service manager Wendy Mason-Jones said the funding for the upgrade was based on the needs of the local government area.
“The two imaging services now operating in Singleton are extremely busy so this funding for the upgrade is vital to maintain services,” Ms Mason-Jones said.
Plans for the facility include housing the imaging and renal dialysis on the upper floor with ambulatory services– community or allied health on the lower floor.
Ms Mason-Jones said the plans also include a transfusion lounge for patients, meaning those having that type of treatment would no longer have to attend the main hospital.
Community and allied health is currently housed in the old nurses’ quarters which is not purpose built and their relocation is most welcomed, she said.
“Best practice involves early diagnosis and early treatment and this upgrade will provide our community with the facilities to provide both these requirements,” she said.
The Nationals candidate for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen welcomed the funding commitment.
“The dedicated staff at Singleton Hospital deserve this upgrade – I have the utmost respect for them and the quality care they provide to our community,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nationals also pledged $92 million to start the Singleton Bypass.
In addition, they have committed a further $20 million to fund the widening of the “hole in the wall” railway underpass at Gowrie Gates on the New England Highway near its intersection with White Avenue.
Visiting Singleton to make the announcement, NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said the $92 million represented 20 per cent of the cost of building the bypass.
“We want to get the project underway and this money will well and truly get it started,” he said.
“The money will come from the privatisation of the poles and wires and is part of a package of $205 million in roads funding for the Upper Hunter.”
Mr Gay said the state government would be working closely with the federal government to get the bypass fully funded.
“I have seen what a difference the Hunter Expressway has made to region and the bypass can have similar impact locally in Singleton,” he said.