New Hospital Proposed for Palmerston

The Country Liberals have committed $100 million over 15 years for the planning and staged construction of a new hospital at Palmerston as the centre piece of its health infrastructure policy.

“Palmerston and the rural area are growing at a tremendous rate and now is the time to put down the pegs of where the new hospital should be and begin the design work for that facility,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Country Liberals.

“Add the significant growth in population that will occur in the area after the satellite city of Weddell is developed and the case for a Palmerston Hospital by 2023 is fiscally sound.

“A Palmerston Hospital is also necessary to ensure that the growing pressure on Royal Darwin Hospital doesn’t turn into patient gridlock in the future.

“Good health planning demands beginning that process now and not waiting until greater Darwin’s health needs become acute.

“Stage 1 of the Palmerston Hospital encompassing design and start up costs would be completed by 2012.

“Stage 2 would see the construction of an emergency department and emergency surgical facilities by the end of 2014.

“Stage 3 would involve the construction of a 130 bed facility with associated services by 2023.

“The people of Palmerston and the rural area have received the rough end of the stick from Labor in health matters.

“The Country Liberals would rectify the disgraceful lack of after hours bulk-billing services in Palmerston immediately by re-instating the subsidy to the Farrar Health Clinic.

“Labor closed the after hours bulk billing service at the Farrar Health Clinic to save just $300,000 a year.

“That funding would immediately be re-instated and continue until the promised Federal health clinic provides an equivalent or better service.

“The Country Liberals are also going to create a 7 day a week, 24-hour Ambulance Service at Humpty Doo.

“There are only 4 full-time ambulances providing 24 hour coverage for greater Darwin.

“The people of the rural area are not adequately serviced by the current arrangements.”

Alice Springs voters were ecstatic with the announcement.

2008-07-28