It seems obvious to all except the NSW Government that the
only use for the Rachel
Forster Hospital
site is as a health care facility. Consideration could be given to its
development as an aged care centre. Dr Mualla Akinci
from the Gold Cross chemist in Redfern argues passionately for the retention of
the hospital as a health care facility for the aged. She points out “This
site could be utilized as a health care facility. An estimated 60% of
inhabitants of the high-rise estates in Redfern Waterloo are over 65years of
age. The Rachel Foster hospital site would have been a perfect choice for a
first class aged care facility:’
Another possibility would be its use as a facility for the
treatment of self-injecting drug users. The area health service provided us
with some pretty disturbing figures. From mid 2003 to September 2005, there
have been 350 episodes of chronic intervention, and 32 occasions of critical
intervention in response to clients who are at risk of drug overdose around The
Block. A facility has been proposed for Lawson Street. If it doesn’t go there, and I say it probably should, then it
should go to Rachel Forster. The site is big enough for both an aged-care
centre and a centre for a community health care facility. If the Government is
hoping for an increase in population here, then a community health facility is
needed. It would significantly add to the well-being of the whole area.