Andrews should re-open rehab unit, alliance says

Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews should reopen the Rehabilitation Unit at Woy Woy Hospital if she was really concerned about the Peninsula community, according to the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance.

Alliance chairperson Mr Bob Mudge said it was an amazing coincidence that Ms Andrews broke her silence on the issue when the group of supporters had staged a protest at NSW Parliament House on June 1.

Mr Mudge said Ms Andrews made an appearance outside Parliament House to confront Alliance protesters.

He said that Ms Andrews claimed that the transitional unit at Woy Woy was an adequate replacement for the rehabilitation unit.

Mr Mudge commented: "The transitional unit at Woy Woy is not a rehabilitation unit and its services are charged for."

"The Woy Woy Rehab Unit was not relocated to Wyong but closed and the patients were moved to Wyong.

"If the Rehab Unit was closed because of a clinicians' report in 2008, why was an internal recommendation in 2007 to increase the rehab beds on the Central Coast to 60, 30 at Woy Woy and 30 at Wyong ignored?"

Mr Mudge said these were fair and valuable points that needed to be addressed by the State Government.

Email, 2 Jun 2010 Bob Mudge, Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance