More Questions than answers

There appeared to be a lack of will on behalf of the Department of Health to progress the new hospital after the March 2006 announcement.​

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Some private land was acquired to enhance the site but no funds were allocated in the budgets. Manly hospital was allowed to languish but Mona Vale had a significant up grade of both Emergency and Maternity units. RHS required significant funds to upgrade the infrastructure and services for the major hospital servicing the northern region.

 

The other important fact to remember is that all the previous planning was undertaken using 2002 census data as the 2006 information not available in March 2006 when the decision was made. But as most people will know the population across the area has grwon significantly in the 10+ years since.

 

In December 2010 the Department of Planning placed on exhibition a proposed Mini City rezoning of high rise residential and commercial (Specialist Centre Proposal) around the proposed French's Forest hospital site. This was later withrawn after much public anger.

 

The current proposal has glossed over major enviromental and traffic issues and fails to account for changes in demographics. A March 2011 announcement made no mention of any necessary roadwork's for the intersection of Warringah Road and the Wakehurst Parkway although it was subsequently reported in the press to cost $280 million.

 

At a public forum held at Dee Why in the 29th of February 2012 the NSW Health minister announced the hospital would go ahead, at cost of approximately $1 billion but no detail on the number of beds or services was given.  In an article in the Manly Daily on March 2nd, the State Treasurer and Manly MP Mike Baird confirmed the cost at around $1billion.

 

There was little consultation when Warringah Council pushed through an extraordinary meeting of council to approve the sale of council land for part of the hospital site to the Department of Health.

 

 

The Department of Health has a guiding document for health infrastructure projects over $10 million called the Process of Facility Planning (POFP). Before a POFP can commence the following 4 core objectives should be achieved.

 

1. All planning documentation pertaining to the project is available to Health infrastructure.

2. Detailed clinical services planning demonstrates in the service need.

3. Clearly defined projects scope to be addressed in the POFP

4. Clearly defined faciity planning parameters to be adhered to in the POFP

 

The first stage of the PFOP then is the Service Procurement Plan (SPP)which also has four objectives.

 

1. Undertake a robust analysis of options to meet the endorsed service need.

2. Identify the preferrend option to meet the endorsed service needs.

3. Identify preliminary capital and recurrent cost of the preferred option.

4. Gain endorsment of the SPP by the Area Health Board Health Infrastructure and the Department of Health.

 

It is unclear how much of this guide has been followed