Denison MP Andrew Wilkie has attacked the State Government over its handling of mental health

HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” when it comes to concerns over the Royal Hobart Hospital’s K-Block.

Andrew Wilkie member for Denison is unhappy about the lack of consultation in relation to the Royal Hobart Hospital K-Block. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

ANDREW Wilkie has accused State Health Minister Michael Ferguson of being “asleep at the wheel” when it comes to concerns over the Royal Hobart Hospital’s K-Block.

But Mr Ferguson fired back, saying the independent Federal MP for Denison had no credibility when it came to health.

“Let’s not forget Mr Wilkie turned down a billion-dollar deal to build a new hospital in 2010, has consistently called for hospitals in the North and North-West to be closed and was actually a contributing member of the reference group during the work of the RHH Redevelopment Rescue Taskforce,” he said.

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More than 500 construction workers gather on the top of the Royal Hobart Hospital K-Block after the main concrete structure was completed this month.

Mr Wilkie said the community should be alarmed that some of the state’s top health professionals were identifying problems at the hospital.

“There’s deep concern in the medical community that the layout of the new K-Block is unsuitable and inadequate,” he said.

“It’s not appropriate for mental health patients because it doesn’t have the right facilities and it’s too small.”

Mr Wilkie said there used to be 42 mental health beds at the hospital, but that has been cut to 32 and is set to go up by one when K-Block is completed.

The Government has said it will review K-Block in February, months before it will open.

“We need the review now, not in six months,” Mr Wilkie said. “The Health Minister is asleep at the wheel or worse.”