Liberals would re-open rehab unit

Liberal candidate for Robertson Mr Darren Jameson has made a $2.7 million commitment to re-open the Woy Woy Rehabilitation Centre if elected on August 21.

The project would see the facility expanded to 30 beds.

"This decision will secure the hospital's future as a publicly-owned facility with an expanded rehabilitation centre," Mr Jameson said.

"This purpose-built rehabilitation unit attached to Woy Woy Hospital has served the community well for more than 39 years until it was closed despite being in an area whose population is rapidly ageing.

"These beds were transferred not to Gosford Hospital but to Wyong Hospital, more than 48 kilometres away, meaning that patients are having to recover further away from their homes and without the emotional support of their families and their friends."

He said that former State Labor Health Minister, John Della Bosca, had closed the unit in December 2008, "in true Labor style without any community consultation".

The 15 beds were relocated to Wyong, despite an internal report recommending that bed numbers be increased, he said.

"This Labor Government is fond of talking about patients taking up hospital beds while waiting on a bed in a rehabilitation unit, but they close down this special purpose unit.

Mr Jameson and Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mr Peter Dutton met with members of the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance to make the announcement outside Woy Woy Hospital.

Mr Dutton said that as the Minister for Health and Ageing he would hold discussions with the State Government regarding the timetable to re-open the facility while ensuring that the renovations and maintenance work would commence as soon as possible.

"This will be accompanied by the recruitment of new staff such as nurses and physiotherapists and it will be re-equipped with new beds, rehabilitation equipment, computers and a new telephone system," Mr Jameson said.

"I am proud to say that an elected Coalition government will provide the funding that will ensure that this facility reopens as soon as the repairs, renovations and maintenance is completed."

Mr Jameson congratulated the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance for all its hard work in keeping the issue prominent in the community over the past two years.

"The Alliance has not given up and this is just another indication of what can be achieved with local residents fighting together for their community," Mr Jameson said.

"It's a pleasure to bring about direct action for Peninsula residents."

Press release, 29 Jul 2010 Darren Jameson, Liberal Party