Intensive care wanted for new Maitland hospital

Residents and health groups put an intensive care unit, child and paediatric services, dementia support and an eye clinic at the top of their wish-list for the facility.

Robert Osborne, of Morpeth, said the hospital also needed surgeons who specialised in a wide range of procedures so patients did not have to be taken to another hospital for treatment.

He saw the pitfalls of the state health system when his mother had a lengthy hospital stay, and said quality services could not be compromised.

‘‘Metford is a great site for the hospital. It’s 10 minutes from the freeway and the site is big enough for a multi-storey car park,’’ he said. 

‘‘We need to make sure that we get the services in the new hospital that we need so we don’t have to travel to Newcastle for treatment.’’

Sally Keir Ewin, a physiotherapist  involved with the Cancer Council, said people wanted a separate lymphoedema treatment service  instead of it being part of the oncology ward. She said residents also wanted access to renal dialysis services.

‘‘People want to be able to access the necessary treatment and be near their friends and families so they can be supported,’’ she said.

Hunter New England Health representatives assured the 100 people at the meeting the new hospital would have a wide range of services like the John Hunter that would complement services at surrounding hospitals.

They said  intensive care and mental health services would be provided, and acknowledged  challenges would include recruiting staff  and managing in a tough economy.

Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the hospital had to service the needs of the region over the next 150 years.

She said the Coalition, in opposition, had been critical of the lack of infrastructure in the Hunter, and in the past three years had delivered on their election promise of $20million for a new public  hospital.