Save RAH

Dear Enquirer

Correspondents in the Letters pages of the Press have addressed the issue of the size of pre-election political promises. The so-called ‘investment of public funds’ is often a carefully crafted lie. Public-Private-Partnerships (P3s) often finance major infrastructure programs. Typically the government contracts with a private sector consortium to develop, build, maintain and operate an asset for as long as 45 years. Frequently the fee paid by the government can be 18% pa so the public pays the rent and the private company makes massive profits.

Mike Rann and minions want South Australians to choose their next Government on the basis of their economic and infrastructure record. So do we.
A Government that wants to abandon a $1billion working hospital in favour of a lesser hospital for $1.7billion – that makes good economic sense.

The Domiciliary Care Crisis in South Australia (Advertiser 15/3) begs the question of Minister Hill “Does your department know what it is doing?”
The old RAH Board was informed in 2003 that on any one day there were 30 acute care beds occupied by patients who had finished their treatment, but were not well enough to go home unsupported. Working out a way of providing such care at home would be the equivalent of providing a whole new ward for the hospital and at a fraction of the cost.

Imagine cooking without salt. Some people do and they get used to it even prefer it The food will be nutritious and presentable but the important attraction of taste will for most of us be not as good and lacks an essential ingredient

The Frome Road precinct for the Royal Adelaide Hospital incorporates the Medical and Dental Schools, the allied health professional departments of the University of South Australia, the IMVS, and the Hansen Institute. Because of the functional interaction between these facilities, to contemplate moving the hospital per se from the Frome Road precinct not only jeopardises patient care, but impacts deleteriously on undergraduate medical training and post-graduate training and research.

It is incumbent on any Government to provide services to the Community at the best value for taxpayers dollars.

On the present evidence, the refurbishment of the RAH defined in the redevelopment plans approved by the former RAH Board would provide facilities equal to those now proposed in the railway yards at less than 60% of the published cost of the brand new hospital.

As the former Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Member for Adelaide, I strongly support the redevelopment of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in its current location.

One cannot underestimate ‘the connect’ between this hospital, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and the community here in South Australia.

No one can sweep away the tradition of this place in the name of progress. Every city and every country has its great hospitals built on the excellence of learning and medical practice.

This hospital is a world famous powerhouse of innovation, education, research and service to the people.

Save the RAH committee has appointed a Board-in-exile for the Royal Adelaide Hospital. It includes prominent South Australians Robert Gerard, Jeremy Cordeaux, Dr. Tim Cooper, Michael Angelakis, Glenelg mayor Dr. Ken Rollond and former federal member for Adelaide Trish Worth, and will be chaired by former state AMA president and RAH medical staff chairman Dr. Philip Harding.

Dr. Harding said that the board's mission was to draw attention to the depth and breadth of concern in the community over the government's plan to demolish the RAH and relocate it at the railway yard site.