Great news!
After our continued hard work through the ongoing campaign, which included 11,000 signatures, we can happily announce that we have been successful in getting a commitment from the NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns for an upgrade of Fairfield Hospital.
The commitment to upgrade Fairfield Hospital by the NSW Opposition Leader includes:
- An intial $115 million over three years to expand the hospital bed capacity by almost 60%
- A commitment to deliver 130 more medical, surgical and rehabilitation beds
- Reinstate the Emergency Department and intensive care unit capacity – meaning more specialist staff, and greater care for emergency presentations
- Extra funding to expand dialysis spaces and enhance radiology services, including CT and MRI capabilities
- Expand aged care, orthopaedic, respiratory and interventional cardiology services
- Expand mental health services as well as introduce a Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre.
The final cost of the redevelopment will be established after further planning and detailed design, but is anticipated to be around $550 million, and take up to six years from when work commences.
Urgent upgrades to the hospital were recommended by the parliamentary inquiry into South West Sydney health services, which heard of some services being rationed, and other services simply non-existent.
I would like to express my gratitude to Chris Minns for listening to the needs of our community.
This campaign has been led by Council, the community and the Member for Fowler Dai Le and we will continue to work together to make sure the upgrades to Fairfield Hospital occur.
And now I would like to call upon the current NSW State Government and Premier Domenic Perrottet to at least match this commitment by the Opposition Leader because as a community it's important that we put the community's needs above politics.
I'm sure that through our continued hard work together we will be able to achieve an upgrade to Fairfield Hospital. We will continue to keep you informed as things progress.
This is a great victory for our community. This will not only improve our Emergency Department but will also take the pressure off the overall waiting times in South West Sydney, in what is one of the fastest growing regions in Sydney.
I have already met with the Premier Domenic Perrottet, along with the Member for Fowler Dai Le, and we will continue to express our people's concerns about the urgent need for Fairfield Hospital to be upgraded.
I'd like to thank you for your support. You have been part of movement that is sure to have many health benefits for you, your families and fellow citizens for many years to come.
FRANK CARBONE
MAYOR OF FAIRFIELD CITY
