The Government’s plan for hospital sale will deprive mental patients…

It seems that the (Premier Kristine) Keneally Labor government is once again thinking,  “short-term gain, long term pain”.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner advises that mentally ill patients will suffer as a result of the NSW government’s plan to sell land around Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital..  Skinner said in a statement “The incompetence is breathtaking.”  “The Keneally Labor government seems intent on selling this land without any consideration for the inevitable future expansion of Royal North Shore Hospital.”  Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt should halt the sale process immediately, Skinner said.

The previously promised new facility to treat the mentally ill has no doubt been squashed in favour of selling off large amounts of land for money to bolster up past inefficient spending of tax payers money, and a much needed facility to treat mentally ill patients will now be downgraded to using an old building which is not ideal for the purpose.
This news is enough to make both patients and their carers even more depressed.

But then, mental health has not been a major issue for the current government, has it?  Why are we surprised?  On the other hand, would the next Government be any different, or is this just another slinging match opportunity?