Alliance calls for Labor commitment

The Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance has called on Labor candidate for Robertson Ms Deborah O'Neill to make a commitment on the return of a rehabilitation unit to Woy Woy Hospital.

"At this point, Ms O'Neill has made no commitment on her or the Labor Party's position in support of the return of the rehab unit to Woy Woy Hospital," group liaison officer Mr Ivan Kinny said.

He said she had promised to make $47 million available for a GP Super clinic, $12 million for local health services, and $5 million for 16 new acute care beds and equipment at Gosford Hospital.

"These commitments, while welcome in themselves, will not re-establish the rehabilitation unit at Woy Woy.

"The community will not tolerate the transfer of the hospital complex either to the private sector, which was contemplated, or misappropriated as a clinic-outpatient facility.

"Any assurances the State health bureaucracy or State Government might give that this is a done deal is being most vigorously opposed by Peninsula residents who are distressed and angered at the way the Labor party is treating this issue thus far.

"Both the Liberal and Greens candidates have been vocal in their support of the return of the rehab unit, as they are aware of the depth of feeling of local constituents about a hospital they fought to establish.

"This informed opposition will not go away, and any political representative needs to be aware of the strength of public anger over this issue and the current impacts," he said.

The group has requested a meeting with Ms O'Neill on the issue.

Email, 12 Aug 2010 Ivan Kinny, Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance