Libs to upgrade Mersey Hospital

· Liberals commit to $8 million in capital works at the Mersey

· Funding will significantly improve theatres, HDU and accident and emergency facilities

· Upgrade will meet current challenges and demand and allow increased throughput

The Tasmanian Liberals will spend $8 million over two years from 2010 at the Mersey Community hospital to extend theatre 3 and the recovery room, relocate and improve the HDU, expand/reconfigure accident and emergency and develop a short-stay unit.
Opposition Leader, Will Hodgman, said:
“The Liberals recognise that the Mersey plays an important role in the delivery of health services in the North-West Coast, particularly for people in the Devonport and Latrobe regions, and this investment highlighted the Liberals’ commitment to the hospital.
“The upgrade will allow for greater volume and throughput of day surgery procedures, improve patient and staff surroundings and significantly improve the 24 hour accident and emergency facilities, while a short stay unit would allow patients who do not necessarily need admission to stay longer in the hospital for observation.”
Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services, Brett Whiteley, said the Mersey had had a rocky road for many years, and many on the Coast still felt uneasy about its long-term future.
“Today’s announcement sends a strong message to the community that, for the Liberals, the Mersey Community Hospital is, and will remain, an integral part of Tasmania’s hospital network.
“This hospital is highly valued by the local community and is one of the largest employers in the region.
“We need to continue to invest in this hospital so that it can meet current and future challenges and continue to be a sustainable regional hospital campus for the North-West community.
“Current arrangements at the Accident and Emergency are totally unacceptable and need immediate improvement, and with increased throughput, theatre and recovery improvements are imperative.”
Liberal Member for Braddon, Jeremy Rockliff, said there was a real need to ensure equity of funding for hospital infrastructure throughout the State.
“Our regional campuses, and our rural hospitals, play a vital role in taking the pressure off major city hospitals and ensuring people who live in these communities have access to quality health and hospital services.
“But in recent hospital infrastructure spending, the Mersey has been left out.
“The Liberals’ funding commitment matches our long-term support for the retention of the hospital and its refocus into areas of excellence.”
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the Opposition Brett Whiteley MP Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services Jeremy Rockliff MP Deputy Leader of the Opposition