Commercial rehab would cost more

It has been months since I was invited to become involved in the fight to have our rehabilitation ward returned to our Woy Woy Public Hospital.

We have held our fourth meeting at the Anglican Church Hall on February 28, with plans for another meeting to be held at the same place on the Saturday, March 14, at 2pm.

Most people asking for assistance from their elected representatives are being supplied with the standard and dated media release and nothing much else.

My own inquiries have revealed that Healthscope Ltd, owners of Brisbane Waters Private Hospital, have harboured their own plans to open a private rehabilitation ward on the Woy Woy Peninsula.

Certainly Healthscope Hospitals NSW state manager Ann Maguire explained to me there was not enough space on the footprint, and that her manager had informed her of the newly vacant area at Woy Woy Public Hospital.

Residents on the Woy Woy Peninsula and in the surrounding suburbs need to understand without a strong reaction, their level of medical amenity will be downgraded to all except those with a capacity to pay for private.

It has been rumoured that private commercial interests have inquired about space in the now vacant Woy Woy rehab ward.

I wonder why, with more than 9000 people over 65 here on the Woy Woy Peninsula, our hospital has not been elevated to the standard of acute care which we need close by.

Let's face it:

The cost of rehabilitation here will increase if private commercial interest take over in filling what locals know is an obvious need.

Edward James, Umina