NSW budget 2016: Where will the money go?

The funding windfall, announced in the 2016-17 NSW budget on Tuesday June 21, will continue stage one of the redevelopment of the hospital and represents half of the total amount promised by Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead before last year’s State election. 

Mr Bromhead was vocal in the lead-up to the 2015 election that $20m promised for the Manning Hospital would be delivered within his current term of government. 

Manning Hospital received $1,350,000 of the promised $20m in last year's State budget following Mr Bromhead’s re-election, but fears that the total figure wouldn’t be delivered will be eased with the delivery of $10m in the 2016-17 budget. 

“Providing quality health care is the focus in this budget, with $10m allocated to continue the Manning Hospital redevelopment stage one (renal and oncology), which will deliver a significant enhancement of cancer care and renal services,” Mr Bromhead said. 

The latest funding announcement means $8,650,000 is required over the the remainder of Mr Bromhead’s term for him to fulfill his pre-election promise. 

The budget comes at a time when the role of Manning Hospital as a trauma treatment centre is being widely questioned. 

Taree businessmen Alan Tickle and Greg Coleman are urging people from across the MidCoast Council area to attend a public meeting at Taree-Wingham Racecourse on Thursday, June 23 at 6pm.

The meeting will focus on the services available at the hospital and the impact of ambulances taking trauma patients to Port Macquarie Hospital.

Chief executive of Hunter New England Health Michael DiRienzo had a teleconference with Mr Tickle and Mr Coleman ahead of the meeting, and said he plans on meeting with community representatives in the coming months. 

“I want to reassure the community that Manning Hospital continues to play a significant role in the treatment of trauma and critically ill patients,” he said.