MINISTER for Health Sussan Ley acknowledged the community’s efforts to raise more than $1 million for the St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital yesterday.
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She said she believed the federal government’s $11 million contribution to the private hospital was “money well spent”.
“We have a simple vision for health nationally,” Ms Ley said.
“It it to stop people getting sick – preventative health is vital as we move into the next generation, but of course, importantly, once they are sick to have them cared for in a first class setting.
“Put simply, with rural and regional health, my vision is to close the gap,” she said.
“We know in rural and regional Australia we don’t have the same opportunities and the outcomes when it comes to health but we’re working very hard to fix that and this facility is going to go a long way towards doing that.”
NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said the push for a private hospital had been a collaborative effort.
“I reckon this is a fantastic collaboration because it really is about getting the best for the people of Griffith,” she said.
“It’s about this hospital providing new services that aren’t currently available at the base hospital that won’t take anything away from the local Griffith hospital.”
Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi said it was a proud day for the city and acknowledged the Spagnolo and Casella families for making it a reality.
The crowd gathered heard from St Vincent’s Health Australia board chairman Paul Robertson.
He said council had been very proactive in making the project a reality.
Bishop Gerard Hanna conducted a blessing ceremony and said a prayer before the first sod was turned.
“Let us pray for God’s help to bring this construction to a successful completion and that God will provide his protection and blessing over all who come to work here,” Bishop Hanna said. Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Member for Murrumbidgee Adrian Piccoli also addressed the crowd.
Mr Piccoli said he believed it was a great day for Griffith, particularly as a father of young children. He said the private hospital would complement the city’s public hospital, which had just undergone a $1 million revamp of its maternity ward.
Dozens of people who raised money attended.
