VASSE member Troy Buswell has expressed concern about Margaret River District Hospital after Shadow Health Minister Dr Kim Hames announced that an incoming Liberal Government would not build the new Busselton Hospital at Vasse.

Dr Hames said they would instead fast track planning to build the hospital on its current site overlooking Geographe Bay.

“The Labor strategy was to use the Busselton Hospital in Vasse as an excuse to downgrade the Margaret River Hospital,” Vasse Member Troy Buswell said.

“However under a Liberal Government there is no link between the provision of the Busselton Hospital and the downgrading of the Margaret River health facility.

“The Margaret River Hospital will continue to play a vital part under the Liberal future health policy.

“The significant growth of the South West Region as well as the great expanse of this area justifies well-resourced hospitals in both Busselton and Margaret River.”

The Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River Shires are expected to grow to at least 55,000 by 2016, which is about 20 per cent over 10 years, he said.

“By Health Minister Jim McGinty’s admission, the future of Margaret River Hospital would be compromised by the development of the Busselton Hospital at Vasse,” he said.

He cited the Legislative Assembly of September 5, 2007 when Mr McGinty said he believed Margaret River’s hospital would not expand in the years to come because extra services would be provided by Busselton.

“I have had had discussions with the communities in both Busselton and Margaret River on this issue and the overwhelming response has been very much the same,” he said.

“When it comes to regular and emergency hospital healthcare, distances to travel are a major area of concern along for local communities.

“These communities deserve to have their own existing local hospital facilities to be upgraded to a suitable 21st century standard.”