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Protest held over hospital demolition fears at Mona Vale Hospital

More than 50 protesters assembled before sunrise on Monday following reports demolition work would begin to Mona Vale Hospital’s main building.

Save Mona Vale Hospital protesters on Monday. Picture: Supplied.
Save Mona Vale Hospital protesters on Monday. Picture: Supplied.

MORE than 50 protesters assembled before sunrise on Monday following reports demolition work would begin to Mona Vale Hospital’s main building.

There appeared to be little sign of demolition work, despite temporary fencing having been erected on-site and a number of workers wearing high-vision uniforms on Monday morning.

Wokrs being carried out at Mona Vale Hospital.
Wokrs being carried out at Mona Vale Hospital.

NSW Health was yet to comment on whether or not demolition works had been scheduled for Monday.

Save Mona Vale Hospital Committee chairman Parry Thomas said the group received three independent tip-offs over the weekend from reliable sources signalling that the hospital’s main building would be demolished.

Mona Vale Hospital. Picture: AAP IMAGES/ Adam Yip
Mona Vale Hospital. Picture: AAP IMAGES/ Adam Yip

Mr Thomas said he approached the hospital’s general manager Jacquline Edgley, who told him there were no plans to demolish the hospital’s main building today, despite newly-erected temporary fencing spanning the Coronation Street frontage of the hospital and onsite construction workers and two semi-trailers.

He said easy access to the urgent care centre had been severely impeded due to construction works at the hospital and adequate signage directing patients seeking urgent medical attention was lacking.

An artist impression of the Mona Vale Hospital Drug and Alcohol Inpatient Rehabilitation facility.
An artist impression of the Mona Vale Hospital Drug and Alcohol Inpatient Rehabilitation facility.

“Anyone seeking urgent care would have to walk down the main driveway and traverse the carpark; frankly it’s a rabbit-warren.”

“I didn’t see any clear signage while I was there,” he said.

The Manly Daily understands two portable buildings and one chemical store have already been demolished on-site.

Mr Thomas said the committee believed any demolition work needed to retain a village green space, keeping a vacant land space for future health services.

“We are certainly going to need an acute service hospital to cater to the area’s population growth, so we need to keep that land vacant,” he said.

Work being done on the Mona Vale Hospital Support Services Building.
Work being done on the Mona Vale Hospital Support Services Building.

“This community needs an acute service hospital there now. it doesn’t need a bandaid station which is what it has currently got- a proper emergency including surgery, maternity, intensive care to service the remoteness of the community of the northern beaches.”

Pittwater MP Rob stokes told the Manly Daily he did not know whether there was planned demolition work at the hospital but cited a range of construction works.

These included the relocation of a helipad to allow for extra wards; a new support service building; a new road; works for privately-operated drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre; a 10-bed palliative care inpatient unit and a 10-bed geriatric care unit.

He said the urgent care unit was currently undergoing renovations for 25 additional short-stay beds.

NSW Health was approached, but is yet to comment.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/protest-held-over-hospital-demolition-fears-t-mona-vale-hospital/news-story/1e83a4ad231c03491e06b049efc69d12