MPs and Mayor to advocate for better health services for Clarence Hospitals

21 October 2009

Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell, Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson and Page Labor MP Janelle Saffin will meet NSW Health Minister and Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt in Sydney next Tuesday 27 October to advocate for better health services in the Clarence.

The meeting was initially set for September, but was cancelled at the last minute following the resignation of then Health Minister John Della Bosca over a sex scandal.

Mr Cansdell said the group wanted a commitment from the Minister that the Rees Government would meet the $600,000 shortfall in funding to build the carpark at Grafton Base Hospital, and to discuss the separation of the high dependency and accident emergency wards.

“The Feds are providing the bulk of the money to bring Grafton Hospital up to scratch, but the State Government must make up the shortfall and provide the extra money needed to ensure the full potential of the project is reached, and that the community gets the project it was promised.

“I will also be using the occasion to present to the Minister local petitions organised by Lower Clarence health campaigner Jim Agnew - with over ten thousand signatures protesting against the amalgamation of management of Grafton Base & Maclean District hospitals, which is part Labor’s plan to cut 400 jobs from North Coast hospitals,” Mr Cansdell concluded.