Labor MPs call for funding to upgrade Fairfield Hospital
Calls for much-needed upgrades at Fairfield Hospital have once again fallen on deaf ears, Labor MPs say.
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Calls for much-needed upgrades at Fairfield Hospital have once again fallen on deaf ears, Labor MPs say.
In a joint statement Fairfield state Labor MP Guy Zangari and Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott condemned the State Government for “its obvious lack of interest” in the health of southwest Sydney families.
Mr Zangari said the government had promised upgrades for eight years and had failed to deliver, with the State Budget containing no additional capital expenditure for Fairfield Hospital.
“Fairfield Hospital is in dire need of additional funds to upgrade its facilities and services while adequately resourcing and supporting the hardworking personnel who are continually forced to do more with less,” he said.
But a South Western Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman disputed the claims, saying Fairfield Hospital had been the “beneficiary of multiple NSW Government-funded upgrades” in the past 12 to 18 months.
The spokeswoman cited a $7 million upgrade to the emergency department, set to be completed in 2019, which includes improved treatment facilities, an upgraded patient waiting area and a discreet paediatric treatment area.
In 2018-19, $2 million will be invested to expand the hospital’s specialist hand clinic outpatient service and $386,000 will be spent on renewing all endoscopy equipment.
“There has also been an investment of $365,000 to redevelop the hospital’s cafeteria for the benefit and comfort of patients, visitors and staff alike,” the spokeswoman said. “The NSW Government has invested more than $3 million in building maintenance, utilities management, system upgrades and medical and non-medical equipment.”
Staffing has also increased by 3 per cent in the past two financial years. Mr Zangari and Dr McDermott pointed to a 2014 master plan for Fairfield Hospital which identified $6 million in upgrades, saying it was years overdue.
The SWSLHD spokeswoman said “districts may undertake master planning exercises from time to time to identify how development could occur” but this process “informs future planning” and does not commit to a future redevelopment of the hospital.