FEDERAL funding for the new regional hospital at Bega is likely to be announced by around May next year if an application for its construction is successful, Member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly said.
Mr Kelly said that under the new federal-state health agreements, 60 per cent of the cost of the new hospital would now be met by the Common-wealth with only 40 per cent coming from the NSW health budget.
An application for funding for the $100 million, 136-bed facility would be lodged under the $1.8 billion round of health funding brought forward after the federal election.
“We will see the new regional hospital funding dealt with in that,” Mr Kelly said.
“There is an application process to be gone through, but if successful it will be announced around budget time in May next year.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced on September 30 that the $1.8 billion in health and hospital funding for the states would go only to non-metropolitan hospitals.
This priority funding for the regions was brought forward as part of the deal brokered between Labor and independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott in return for their support for a minority government.
Applications for funding close on December 3.
Mr Kelly said he had also been deeply involved in negotiations to secure the land for the new regional hospital on Tathra Road opposite the Glen Mia estate.
He said those negotiations were progressing well and there were funds available for its immediate purchase once terms were agreed.
He said the site would be “well and truly suitable” for the new hospital and any future growth requirements.
Mr Kelly stressed that the new hospital would be “a regional, not Bega hospital” that would interact with other smaller nearby hospitals including Cooma and Bombala.
For that reason it was better sited inland rather than on the coast.
The chosen site had no infrastructure issues and would be flood free and clear of any rising sea level issues.
“It is all very exciting. We are starting to see some outcomes that will put this region on a sound health footing,” he said.
Mr Kelly said he was aware that there were some concerns on the Far South Coast over the size of the new Local Health Network (LHN), which runs from the Victorian border to Goulburn and inland to Queanbeyan, but it was designed to be self sufficient.
He said negotiations were continuing into just how the ACT would fit into the new structure.
He suggested that the best way for local communities to plug into the LHN governing council would be through the formation of voluntary committees that would be the conduit for dealing with any issues that may arise.
He said that two important positions on the new council would be those of clinicians representative and consumer/patient advocate.
The chair and members of the governing council would be announced by NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt.
Mr Kelly said that legislation had been introduced in the current session of federal parliament to give the Commonwealth government oversight on clinical and safety standards and best practise aspects under the new health agreements with the states.
Further legislation would establish a performance authority and a price and budget management authority to help oversee the system.
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