HAWKESBURY HOSPITAL

I welcome the announcement by the NSW Government that they will assume responsibility of Hawkesbury Hospital, following St John of God Health Care’s decision not to renew its contract.

I am pleased to see the commitment to Hawkesbury residents by NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park, to continue to deliver excellent care to the community, including through the 24- hour emergency department, operating theatres, community health services and outpatients’ clinics, through the transition and beyond.

Importantly, I welcome the Minister’s commitment to work closely with staff throughout the change, alongside the relevant health unions, to make the transition of their employment to the NSW public system as smooth as possible. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone at St John of God who has provided high quality and compassionate care to the Hawkesbury community for the past 8 years. It has been a pleasure to work with them to improve services like the new Medicare-subsidised MRI machine accommodated within the hospital.

I am confident the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District will continue to deliver the quality health care our community needs.