THE state government has finally started work on long-promised short-term accommodation at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital for regional and rural patients and carers.
Since the closure of the privately-run Blue Gum Lodge more than a year ago, sick people from country areas have been forced to pay for their own accommodation and be reimbursed from the Isolated Patient Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).
However, the cost is prohibitive for many, with rebates of $43 a night for single rooms and $60 for doubles in one of the ritziest parts of Sydney, where accommodation is scarce and prices start at more than $150 a night.
The new accommodation is being built in the former maternity ward in the hospital's Douglas Building by Fugen Constructions, which was awarded the tender in May.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the building would offer a mix of 18 one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites and was scheduled for completion in mid-August.
Linda Samera, a remote area general practitioner from Corindi Beach on the Mid North Coast, has travelled to the hospital each month for five years for treatment for an autoimmune disease.
Dr Samera has led a high-profile campaign in The Land for affordable and accessible city accommodation, and said the government had promised the accommodation for more than two years.
"At this point in time I am not celebrating until it actually happens," she said.
"They promised it would be built by this year, then they delayed it until April, then May and now they are saying it will open in September."
Dr Samera said she had received a letter from the government saying the work had been delayed to comply with fire regulations.
"It's good they are doing something but it is grossly inadequate because we really need 60 to 65 rooms a night and they are promising 18," she said.
"It's still only scratching the surface."
She said the proposed short-term accommodation was for a maximum of four nights.
"It's crazy because the majority of people there need radiotherapy or major surgery or have a loved one in ICU (intensive care unit) and need to be there for longer.
"It's still fairly tokenistic and not fixing the problem, but it is the only hospital that has done anything so far."
Mrs Skinner said the new accommodation would also benefit families of patients.
"The NSW government is committed to providing high quality care for patients as close to home as possible," Mrs Skinner said.
"However, specialist treatment or surgery, especially for certain types of cancers, can often only be undertaken in the city.
"Such occasions are stressful for loved ones, without the extra burden of finding suitable accommodation close to the hospital.
"This new, purpose-built accommodation will provide a modern, convenient home away from home."
Mrs Skinner said the hospital would run the unit on a not-for-profit basis and people eligible for IPTAAS would not be out of pocket.
The scheme provides financial assistance to people who travel more than 100 kilometres one-way or at least 200km a week cumulative distance to access the specialist medical treatment not available locally.
