‘One Eurobodalla Hospital’ claim government delayed hospital event
Claiming an event to signal the official construction start of a new south coast hospital was delayed, community members decided to take matters into their own hands.
The South Coast News
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Angry community members turned the first soil of a new major south coast hospital after claims the official event was delayed.
However, according to the NSW Government, there was never any event planned to herald the start of the new $200 million Eurobodalla hospital.
A state government spokesperson said Monday would see early archaeological works for cultural and heritage reasons but these were delayed in order finalise talks with local indigenous community members.
Despite this, One Eurobodalla Hospital founder Fitzroy Boulting claimed the event was postponed due to “ministers being engaged with other matters” and claimed he had spoken to ministers the night before.
“They said they were engaged and wouldn’t be coming down,” he said.
Despite the controversies flush in the air at the unofficial event, nurses who attended said they simply wanted to see the hospital built.
Karen Johnston has worked at the Moruya Hospital since 1986 and said she had seen multiple attempts to see a new major hospital built.
“They have always failed in the past,” she said.
“I’m so excited, as is all the staff to get this new building.”
Despite the excitement, Mrs Johnston said the new hospital will only work if it is staffed properly.
“This will be a shiny new building which will be horribly understaffed and nobody wants that,” she said.
With a shovel in hand, Dr Holland who was invited to the unofficial event, stuck the tool in ground to lift the first pile of dirt at the future hospital site.
Dr Holland said while the delay was frustrating, “building will start”.
“The NSW Government said it will start within the term of this government,” he said.
“People in the Eurobodalla with things like cancer have to travel two or three hours in pain.
“We need these services here which will benefit the south coast from Milton Ulladulla, all the way down to Bega.”
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