Local residents are being urged to sign a petition calling for the NSW Government to redevelop Canterbury Hospital.
The petition was launched on Thursday 27 August 2020 at Canterbury Hospital by State Labor MPs Sophie Cotsis, Jihad Dib and Jo Haylen. The MPs were joined by Health Services Union official Adam Hall, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association organiser Mark Murphy and healthcare staff from the hospital.
READ MORE: Sophie Cotsis leading the charge for Canterbury Hospital redevelopment
State Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said Canterbury Hospital should be upgraded to meet the needs of the Canterbury area’s growing population.
“Canterbury Hospital needs a major redevelopment to cope with the pressure of our growing population,” Ms Cotsis said.
“The NSW Liberal Government’s housing policies mean the population of our area is forecast to grow by almost 40 percent over the next ten years.
“We need to invest in Canterbury Hospital now to ensure it is ready for the future”.
With the Canterbury Hospital’s last major upgrade being in 1998, patients on the elective surgery waiting list has increased by 14% in 2019 alone. State Member for Lakemba Jihad Dib said Canterbury Hospital should be upgraded to provide vital services for local residents.
“Canterbury Hospital urgently needs to be redeveloped to provide vital services for our community,” Mr Dib said.
“Canterbury Hospital has no renal dialysis, angiogram or MRI scanning technology, and it has limited ultrasound capacity.
“Residents deserve to access these services locally at Canterbury Hospital, instead of being forced to travel to other areas”.
State Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen spoke about how upgrading Canterbury Hospital would create jobs and stimulate the local economy.
“Many families and small businesses are struggling due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19,” Ms Haylen said.
“Upgrading Canterbury Hospital could create opportunities for local tradespeople and hundreds of jobs during the construction phase.
“An upgraded Canterbury Hospital would also create new long-term job opportunities in fields including medicine, healthcare, science and technology.”
To receive a copy of the petition call the office of Sophie Cotsis on (02) 9718 1234.
