PARK BUNGLES DAVID BERRY HOSPITAL CONSULTATION

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has again called on Health Minister and so-called Minister for the Illawarra Ryan Park to release the data from the consultation on the future of David Berry Hospital.

Pubic consultation closed last week but Mr Ward said the Mr Park is yet to release the deidentified results for each question posed and answered by more than 1,000 locals.

Mr Ward accused the NSW Government of being disingenuous about community consultation.

“Let’s be very clear, our local community has forced the Government to consult after NSW Labor were pressured to rule out flogging off the David Berry Hospital site,” Mr Ward said.

“But the consultation isn’t genuine. Mr Park couldn’t be bothered to attend a single community meeting on the future of David Berry Hospital, and he couldn’t even come one floor down from his office to the Chamber to do his job and participate in the Public Interest Debate on the future of the hospital site.

“Ryan Park has been missing in action as Health Minister and Minister for the Illawarra. I bet he hasn’t even visited the hospital site as Minister.

“The Government said in a letter to me that it would be closing palliative and rehab services at David Berry Hospital in 2025 and this is still what the government intends to do. How can consultation be genuine if the continuity of these services isn’t on the table and the government has already decided what’s in and what’s out.

“Mr Park needs to do his job, come and speak to locals and stop hiding behind surveys whilst simultaneously refusing to release results.

“Just like Labor’s Bob Harrison 30 years prior, I will continue to stand up for my community and fight to ensure David Berry Hospital continues to serve the best interests of our community,” Mr Ward concluded.