Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has staked his political career on securing upgrades for the Armidale Hospital.
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“There’s no doubt that if this doesn’t work out that I will take damage at the ballot box,” he said.
Mr Marshall met with the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner last month over the hospital and challenged her to take action before the election.
But while a spokeswoman from the Health Minister’s ministerial office said the $61 million hospital upgrade was being considered, she declined to comment as to when the government would make a decision.
Mr Marshall challenged Ms Skinner to announce the upgrades soon.
“We’ve done everything we’ve needed to do,” he said.
“The ball is now in her court.
“It is not just the number one issue for Armidale, but the whole electorate, proper modern health services underpin the wellbeing of the whole region.”
Mr Marshall’s comments come after independent candidate David Mailler said the only way to get money for the region was to scare the state government by making the seat marginal or by representing it as an independent.
“My job is to force change, and if you can’t force change you have to be the change,” he said.
“We know money flows into marginal seats.”
Mr Marshall rejected that claim, saying if that were true hospital funding would have been secured years ago when Richard Torbay and Tony Windsor represented the area at the state and federal level respectively.
The proposed upgrades would include new operating theatres, emergency department and medical wards along with refurbishments to the critical care unit.
Mr Mailler said he would welcome any funding announcements about Armidale Hospital but didn’t trust the Coalition to deliver.
Greens candidate Mercurius Goldstein said regardless of whether the hospital received upgrades or not it should remain in public hands.