The State Government must reveal an opening date for the new Royal Hobart Hospital, says Labor

Tasmanians can’t wait any longer to find out when the State Government will announce an opening date for the new Royal Hobart Hospital, Labor says.

TASMANIANS can’t wait any longer to find out when the State Government will announce an opening date for the new Royal Hobart Hospital, Labor says.

Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said for months the State Government had claimed completion of the project was imminent and said Tasmanians deserved to know when it would open.

Tasmanian Labor member Sarah Lovell. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Ms Lovell said the contracted date for completion was December 2018, later revised to August 2019, before a further delay to October 2019.

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“The Liberals have served up secrecy and spin throughout this entire process. It is time Tasmanians are told the truth – when will K Block be finished and when will beds be opened,” she said.

“With more than 10,500 people waiting for vital surgeries, Tasmanians are desperately wondering what’s gone wrong with Will Hodgman’s only significant health policy.

“Outpatient waiting lists have exploded, ambulance response times are getting worse and we know that more health cuts are on the way in 2020.”

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Health minister Sarah Courtney last month said K Block would undergo rigorous inspection, testing and defect rectification “to ensure it meets all specified requirements” and is safe and fit for purpose.

She said commissioning of K Block services would follow, which was on track for a February commencement.

When contacted yesterday, a government spokesman said ”the commissioning of the redeveloped Royal Hobart Hospital remains on track to commence next month”.

“Labor failed to lay a single brick and have zero credibility when it comes to RHH redevelopment,” a spokesman said.

Sarah Courtney at Hobart Private Hospital. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

After touring the recently refurbished George Town District Hospital on Sunday Ms Courtney said the State Government was committed to building a better health care system for all Tasmanians including in rural areas.

“This is exactly why we are backing them with our $15 million Rural Hospital and Ambulance Station Fund, because we know how important these facilities are for those local communities,” she said.

“We are delivering on this key commitment which we took to the 2018 election, as we’ve seen at the George Town District Hospital.”

The George Town Hospital is undergoing nearly $300,000 in refurbishments which includes the now completed upgrades to the Main Reception and Nurses Station, as further works to upgrade the bathroom facilities are said to begin soon.