Shadow Minister for Mental Health Gladys Berejiklian said today the Premier and Minister for Health should come clean on the Concord Hospital Mental Health Relocation Plan.
“The Premier and Minister for Health are hiding behind re-announcement after re-announcement while thousands of people across the state suffer because the Government has failed to provide adequate services in mental health,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“An example of the Government’s incompetence is the relocation of the Rozelle Hospital at Callan Park to Concord Hospital. This project commenced in 1997 and was due to be complete by 2007 at a cost of $31 million[*1].
ReplyDelete“The Government’s infrastructure report and Budget Papers reveal the cost of this relocation has blown out to $57 million[*2], with the Government pretending it is a new initiative by not listing the commencement date of the project.
“The relocation project will result in the loss of mental health facilities at Callan Park and a reduction in the number of beds at the facility. Whilst the project commenced in 1997, it is now not due for completion until 2009.
“This $26 million blow-out demonstrates the Iemma Labor Government cannot competently manage mental health. It’s an unacceptable state of affairs.
“Once complete, the project will result in much fewer acute beds than previously existed at Callan Park,” Ms Berejiklian said.