Save RAH

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.

Opinion piece by Dr Philip Harding, Emeritus Consultant at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Past President of the Australian Medical Association.

Mr. Rann's amusing idea that spending $200 million building a research Institute will result in 675 internationally recruited scientists falling out of the sky to generate groundbreaking research is a further illustration of how out of touch he and his government are with the realities of medical research and education and their integration with clinical care in connection with the "new hospital project".

Opinion piece by Dr Alan Down, Director of Gynaecology, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Readers of the Advertiser may be surprised at the lack of serious public debate about the proposed removal of the RAH from its present site to the other end of North Terrace. This does not mean that it is not being debated furiously in medical and nursing circles but simply that it has so far failed to reach the public domain despite its enormous significance to the health and welfare of all South Australians.

Come and support your Royal Adelaide Hospital by attending a sausage sizzle to be held on Sunday 21st June 2009 at Rundle Park, East Terrace, Adelaide (opposite Rundle St East End). It will run from 11am to 2pm and will be held in a family friendly atmosphere.

Invited speakers include:

• Vickie Chapman MP
• Senator Nick Xenophon
• Mark Parnell MLC

Hon John Hill MP, Minister for Health was also invited however unfortunately is unable to attend.

Background
In 2005 the SA government was faced with completion of the RAH redevelopment Plan (begun in 1997 and hitherto having cost $130m). The next project was major - the demolition of the old Residential wing and building New Wards with single rooms and ensuites. This was costed at $600m or thereabouts.
Government turned to private sources for funding. New buildings on the existing site were not appropriate for Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) and so government selected the railway yard for that purpose.

I was disappointed to read in your May 8 edition of AM Indaily the claim by new AMA President Andrew Lavender that to rebuild the RAH would cost $2 billion. It is a shame that, so soon after taking the AMA reins, Dr Lavender has seen fit to toe the state government line on this issue.

Opinion piece by Dr James Katsaros, Director of Plastic Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Climate change and RAH issues are different topics, but they are linked by a common thread. They have been needlessly politicized.

Professor Ian Plimer’s book “Heaven and Earth, Climate Change: The Missing Science” has alerted more Australians to the significance of astronomical, solar and geological factors as drivers of climate change. Plimer unapologetically relegates the concentration of atmospheric CO2 to a much lower position on his prioritised list of factors.