A WEEK after lobbying the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has stepped up his campaign for the review of the Armidale Hospital redevelopment plans.
Mr Marshall met with the Health Minister Jillian Skinner in Parliament House yesterday morning.
“The plans are out of date and need to be re-costed, but most importantly, with developments onsite such as the Ambulatory Care Building and the University of New England’s Clinical School, there is a need to modernise the current plans,” Mr Marshall told Ms Skinner.
“Much has changed over the last three years and I, together with hospital clinicians and management, want to see new plans for infrastructure upgrades which adequately meets current healthcare demands and our needs over the next 20-30 years.
“Having the plans modernised and accurately costed will put this project at the ‘top of the pile’ and give the community the best possible chance of attracting funding when it becomes available at a Commonwealth level.”
Mr Marshall said he received a “very good” hearing from Ms Skinner, although no commitment was made.
“The Minister is considering my request and the case I put to her about the importance of this upgrade to Armidale all the entire Northern Tablelands region,” he said.
“The Minister said she’d also been briefed by Parliamentary Secretary Melinda Pavey after her visit and meeting at Armidale Hospital last week.
“I remain hopeful of a positive outcome but I’m going to keep up the pressure.”
Mr Marshall said the Minister confirmed she would be in Armidale early next month to officially open the new $8 million Ambulatory Care Building at the hospital.
