HEALTH Minister Jillian Skinner this week joined Acting Premier and Oxley MP Andrew Stoner to meet with staff and patients at the region’s hospitals.
Stops on the two-day tour were made at the Kempsey, Wauchope and Port Macquarie hospitals.
While touring Kempsey Hospital on Tuesday, Mr Stoner and Mrs Skinner announced the successful tender for the early works for the hospital’s $80 million redevelopment.
“Lahey Constructions has been awarded the early works tender to kick off this long-awaited and much-needed redevelopment,” Mr Stoner said.
“It’s wonderful to see a local company, based at Kempsey, starting the works on our hospital.”
Yesterday, Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott welcomed the Health Minister to the Hastings, where she inspected progress on the $110 million upgrade of Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
The Federal Government is contributing $96 million to the upgrade as a result of Mr Oakeshott’s negotiations with the Prime Minister in 2010. Shortly afterward, the State Government committed $14 million to the project.
“I’m pleased the NSW Health Minister has a chance to look over the construction site and to be as excited about this project as our community is,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“I’m thankful we’ve been able to secure such an important infrastructure upgrade for our medical community and for the broader community as a result of the unique opportunity which presented itself after the 2010 election.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing the upgraded hospital completed next year.”
