The NT Government remains committed to delivering the Palmerston Hospital despite the CLP once again talking it down, Health Minister Kon Vatskalis said today.

“Once again we have seen the Opposition continue to tear down what will be a first class hospital for the people of Palmerston and the rural area,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“If the CLP had it their way Territorians would have to wait until 2023 to even have a Palmerston Hospital.

“And even worse – they’d downgrade the Royal Darwin Hospital to a secondary facility.

“The CLP do not support accessible, quality and affordable health care and the CLP cannot be trusted to deal with the delivery of health services to Territorians.

“The NT Government refuses to delay building the Palmerston Hospital even though the CLP want us too.”

Mr Vatskalis said the NT Government had always said RDH would remain the primary hospital and will continue to provide the highly specialist services for complex care, particularly for high risk maternity.

Palmerston Hospital will provide birthing service for women and use a community based model of care.

“We will be doing more community consultation and displays of the proposed design in the coming months,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“CLP has no plan for a birthing delivery suite in their proposed hospital for Palmerston and no inpatient beds until 2023.

Contact: Maria Billias 0401 119 746

• non-AHHA

• Printer-friendly version