Ward Moves to Legislate for Helipads for New and Renovated Hospitals

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has given notice of a Private Members Bill that will require all new or renovated hospitals with an emergency department to have a helipad as part of the build.

Mr Ward’s moves come amidst the scandal-plagued development of the Shellharbour Hospital which will not have a helipad when the hospital opens on day one of operation.

“The current Shellharbour Hospital has a helipad. The $780 million new Shellharbour Hospital, currently under construction, will not. When minutes and seconds matter, a helipad shouldn’t be an optional extra, it should be mandatory,” Mr Ward said.

“My bill will mandate that on all new hospital builds and upgrades on hospitals where that hospital has an emergency department, the government must provide for a helipad. Whilst the public may think this is just common-sense, believe it or not the Minns Labor Government and Ryan Park don’t agree.

“The Government’s plan is to fly critical emergency patients into Albion Park Airport and drive them all the way along the Princes Highway, all the way along Dunmore Road, past a very large combined primary and high school to the hospital facility. This is just madness.

“What makes this situation even more bizarre is that the government has developed a cycleway strategy for the new hospital, but it won’t have a helipad. People having heart attacks don’t need cycleways, they need fast and responsive critical emergency care.

“I am deeply disappointed in the Health Minister who is also the Minister for the Illawarra. In Opposition, Ryan Park told us how important it was to have a Ministry for the Illawarra, but Ryan continues to fail our region and health facilities that are his direct responsibility. He can fix this right now.

“The fact that the government can find millions to sponsor violent sports like UFC but can’t find a cracker for life-saving infrastructure just goes to show that this government has the wrong priorities.

“I will withdraw this bill tomorrow if NSW Labor pulls its finger out and confirms a helipad for the new Shellharbour Hospitals and future hospital builds and upgrades,” Mr Ward said.