Shadow Health Minister, Rob Lucas, said the State Liberals would commit to spending $17.5 million to build a new neonatal unit at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) if elected to Government, which would eventually see an increase of up to 15 cots for babies.
The State Liberals accept there is a need for improved facilities for families in the southern suburbs and will ensure the new unit is completed by 2017/18.
While the State Liberals are sympathetic to the $100 million redevelopment of the Flinders Medical Centre it will not be in a position to make a final decision on all or part of this project until all the details can be provided by SA Health.
In particular, the State Liberals will have to establish whether there is sufficient funding available in the budget forward estimates for the project.
The priority for the State Liberals in considering this project will be in attempting to reduce the terrible ramping problem at the FMC under the Weatherill Labor Government.
Therefore, the establishment of a short-term inpatient hospital capacity for the Emergency Department would be a priority for a Marshall Liberal Government.
“It is interesting to note that the table released by the Weatherill Labor Government yesterday on funding for major hospital projects up to 2018/19 makes no mention of the move of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to North Terrace,” said Shadow Health Minister Rob Lucas.
“This project, which will cost between $600 million and $1 billion, does not have a single dollar allocated to the project in the forward estimates.
“At a time when Premier Weatherill refuses to reveal the detail of his $1033 million health cuts over the next three years, it is hard to believe Mr Weatherill will keep all the promises he has been making.
“In contrast, the State Liberals will only commit to projects when it is confident it will have the funds required to complete the project.”