A consultant’s report shows a city eye hospital would have cost $70m

An eye hospital near the RAH being considered by the former Labor Government after its Modbury site plan was shelved would have cost $70 million over a decade, a consultant’s reports shows

There is still no plan for an eye hospital but Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said options “across the state” were open. Picture: Thinkstock

The previous Labor government’s plan for a city eye hospital would have cost in the vicinity of $70 million over a decade, a business case it commissioned shows.

The business case came after Labor first announced an eye hospital would be established at Modbury Hospital under the Transforming Health program.

This plan was later dumped amid criticism from vision-impaired groups worried about how older people with poor vision living outside the area would get to Modbury.

The then-government then commissioned Carramar Consulting to identify alternative options, and the preferred site was near the RAH.

Consultants BDO were then commissioned to draw up a business case which found fitting out a nearby commercial building would cost $69.6 million over a decade.

There is still no plan for an eye hospital and Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said options “across the state” were open.

“The Marshall Liberal Government will continue to consult and investigate the best long-term strategy for eye services,” he said.