A rooftop helipad will be built at the new $780 million Shellharbour Hospital, after both major parties pledged to fund it, but birthing suites remain off the cards.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed the government’s $10 million commitment just hours after NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman made the same promise, ensuring the lifesaving addition will be delivered.
While the helipad moves ahead, maternity services remain excluded, a gap Labor’s Kiama candidate Katelin McInerney, Shellharbour MP Anna Watson and the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre say must be fixed in future stages.
Ms McInereny, who is running for NSW Parliament in the Kiama by-election, told ABC Illawarra she would fight for maternity services.
“I’ve already been really clear with the Premier that I will be an advocate for the services that my community needs, and one of those will be the maternity services,” Ms McInerney said.
“We’re only at phase one of the hospital, and the helipad going in as part of that was a really important step to boosting the capabilities of our local health system. And I will be a very, very loud advocate to make sure that those services, like maternity services, are in the future for Shellharbour Hospital.”
Ms Watson has also publicly backed a full suite of maternity services for the rapidly growing area, saying she will continue working with Mr Park to make it happen in future stages.
“As this is a growing area with lots of young families, I am very supportive of the new Shellharbour Hospital having a full suite of maternity services. I will continue to work with the Minister to ensure this will happen in the future,” she said.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is calling for a midwife-led birthing unit at the new hospital, citing better outcomes when care is provided close to home and signalling there are midwives ready to work locally.
With the new hospital not due to be completed until 2027, the Centre’s Executive Director, Sally Stevenson, said it’s time for action now.
“Women and families can’t afford to wait beyond 2027. We need maternity services delivered on the opening of Shellharbour Hospital,” she said.
“Midwives are ready and willing to work in Shellharbour. All we need is the political will to put maternity services where they belong.”