With the upcoming NSW Budget less than a month away, Adam Marshall said he has demanded the health minister provide funding to get detailed planning works underway for our hospital.
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There are two hospital revelopments planned in Mr Marshall's electorate - Moree and Glen Innes - and the Northern Tablelands MP said he used the meeting with Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday to demand the first tranche of funding for the $100 million projects.
Mr Marshall said the delivery of the hospitals had become vital to preventing health services in both communities falling into a critical state and work needed to start now to ensure construction works could start as soon as possible.
"If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything, it is the necessity for regional communities to have accessible, high quality medical facilities on their doorstep," Mr Marshall said.
"The $80 million new Moree Hospital and $20 million refurbishment of Glen Innes Hospital has been committed for nearly two years and now is the time for it to be delivered.
"Moree's medical practitioners and patients have been desperately waiting for this project since 2015 and are crying out for a hospital which will be capable of servicing the diverse needs of that community.
"At Glen Innes, the demolition and refurbishment of the old nurse's quarters will go a long way towards addressing the devastating doctor shortages which are plaguing that service.
"This is fast becoming a life or death situation for these towns and unless these facilities are improved, there is no doubt we will continue to struggle to attract the doctors and health professionals needed to keep residents safe and healthy.
"I'm going to ensure the government keeps its word to our communities and delivers on both hospital commitments.
"I won't stop fighting until all the funding is secured and construction gets underway."
Mr Marshall said following the redevelopment of Armidale and Inverell hospitals, the $100 million investment at Moree and Glen Innes would be a huge economic shot in the arm for the entire region.
"As we have seen with the construction of other major infrastructure projects like the new Inverell Hospital and Armidale Secondary College, these builds have been vital in keeping hundreds of tradespeople on the job and with an income during this difficult time," he said.
"Not only do these projects create employment but they also inject dollars directly into local building supply businesses and manufacturers.
"In the 2019 budget we saw money made available to commence the planning of these projects and now is the time for hard cash to be put down to get the designs done diggers on the ground.
"Should the November budget deliver what we hope, this will mark a historic time health facilities in the Northern Tablelands, with Moree and Glen Innes Hospitals joining Armidale, and Inverell in being fully redeveloped and upgraded."
