HUNTER New England Health (HNEH) will fully fund the installation of piped medical gases and reverse cycle air-conditioning into the local hospital, it was revealed at a public meeting last week.
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Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Michael DiRienzo met with the Glen Innes Hospital Auxiliary and representatives from community groups at the sometimes fiery meeting, to explain why HNEH does not support the building of a helipad on hospital grounds.
The ongoing battle to get the helipad built has seen locals contribute close to $100,000 towards the construction with the Glen Innes Hospital Auxiliary receiving design plans earlier this year.
However Mr DiRienzo said despite ongoing discussions with the hospital auxiliary it was decided that it was not feasible to build a helipad in Glen Innes.
“We have worked closely with the Glen Innes Hospital Auxiliary regarding the likely costs of the proposed helipad. As a result, the Auxiliary was concerned about the amount of money that the community would have to raise to complete the project,” he said.
“In response to community interest, we investigated what would be involved in the project should the community raise the funds required to build the helipad.
“Since fundraising began, specifications and aviation standards for helipads have changed and it is now significantly more expensive to build a helipad.”
Glen Innes Hospital Auxiliary President Jan Sharman said they will return funds raised for the helipad to donors who have requested a refund.
“The remaining funds will be used for additional projects at the Auxiliary’s discretion,” she said.
Mr DiRienzo said as well as the prohibitive cost there have been a relatively small number of patients transferred by helicopter from Glen Innes Hospital and suitable landing areas exist in close proximity at the oval and the airport.
“It is for these reasons the proposed helipad is not the greatest need for the hospital,” he said.