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Calvary Health Care ACT

Proposed Transfer of Calvary Public Hospital to the ACT Government

The following media release announcing the sale of calvary Hospital would not proceed was issued on 7 February 2010.

A Q&A Information Bulletin is available at the end of the media release

CALVARY SALE PROPOSAL WILL NOT PROCEED

LCM Health Care today announced the proposal that it transfer Calvary Hospital to the ACT Government would not go ahead.

“We have advised the ACT Government that we are unable to continue discussions on the current proposal,” Little Company of Mary Health Care Chairman, Tom Brennan, said today.

The Australian Province of the Little Company of Mary, whose approval is one of those necessary for the transfer, decided this week not to proceed with the recommendation from the LCM Health Care board to accept the proposal.

“The Sisters took this decision in the light of very recent communications from Archbishop Coleridge of the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese. They drew from the communication that any Vatican approval, if granted at all, would take a number of years. Accordingly, they believe it would not be in the interests of the community of Canberra, to apply for approval for the sale to the Holy See,” Mr Brennan said.

“Rather than draw out an already protracted process and prolong the uncertainty at the hospital and for the community, the Sisters felt they should take it no further, given the view they now have of the chances of a timely resolution in Rome.

“They were mindful that the proposal was strongly opposed by some members of the Church in Canberra and elsewhere, and did not want to deepen those divisions and risk their actions causing damage to the Church.

“The Sisters have said they are disappointed to have had to make this decision and have made it only after careful, prayerful consideration.”

The proposal for the transfer of Calvary to the government was conditional on a number of approvals, including the local and governing Provinces of the Little Company of Mary, the Holy See and the ACT Legislative Assembly.

“At the outset and as we went through the stages of the process last year, we believed it likely, based on close consultation with the Sisters, our Canon Law advice and on both public and private statements of the Archbishop and his Vicar General, that the Church approvals would be secured in a reasonable time frame. We and the Sisters are now of the view that this is no longer the case,” Mr Brennan said.

“The LCM Board agrees with the Sisters that a lengthy delay would prevent us from delivering the capital investment needed in the public and private hospital at the time it is needed – commencing in the next two to three years,” he said.

THE SEARCH FOR A RESOLUTION
Since the 2001 Reid Report on the future directions of Canberra’s health care system, the LCM Health Care Board has sought to address three fundamental structural issues in Canberra:-
• to provide a framework that secures the very substantial capital investment required in the public hospital so that it might become the public hospital that the residents of the north side of Canberra deserve;
• to sustain a viable and vibrant private hospital that meets standards that patients, doctors and staff find acceptable;
• to provide a sound basis for the LCMHC mission in palliative care.

“Contrary to some commentary, since 2001 we have developed and discussed with government numerous options to address these long term, structural issues.

“The Board’s view, reached after extensive deliberation, consultation and discernment, was that the Government offer to buy the public hospital and to sell to us Clare Holland House was the option which delivered on all the structural issues that were needed – that is: firstly, providing the basis for the investment by Government of $200m in the public hospital whose current building stock is worth about $80m; second, providing the land and the financial resources to enable us to build a state of the art new private hospital; and third, providing a sound basis for the ongoing operation of Canberra’s public palliative care services as a mission of the Church.

“That remains the Board’s view,” Mr Brennan said.

THE FUTURE
“Despite what we and, indeed, Archbishop Coleridge, have identified as significant risks to their long term sustainability, the Board of LCM Health Care is committed to continuing to operate all of our works in Canberra as a work of the Holy Spirit Province of the Little Company of Mary, which itself is an important part of the Australian Church and its heritage. We remain committed to delivering the best possible quality of health and aged care to the people of Canberra.

“The Calvary Bruce community has been very patient since the proposal came to light publicly in April last year. Those who work at the hospital have steadfastly continued to focus on providing quality care to the people of Canberra and we are of course regretful they have been put through these months of uncertainty. We will be talking to the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital in coming days to ask for their continued support.

“The ACT Government has worked extremely hard to get the current proposal to a stage where we could put it up for the necessary approvals, and we are very grateful for all the work that has gone into it and also wish to thank all the members of the Canberra community who care about the hospital’s future and made their views known.

“Once the government has had an opportunity to consider this change of position by us, we will seek further discussions with the government as it develops its further options for health and hospital services in the north of Canberra and our place in those options. We commit to working with the government, our doctors and staff and the Canberra community to advance the interests of the community within the constraints we each face.

“The Board also wishes to thank our executives and staff who have worked with great skill and dedication on this proposal,” Mr Brennan said.(Ends)

Contact:
Greg Bayliss, Communications Manager,
Calvary Health Care ACT
02 62016628, 0432 130 693

WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE TRANSFER OF CALVARY PUBLIC?
For the transfer to go ahead it needs to get a number of approvals, including the Vatican. What has recently become clear is that if the approval is granted by the Vatican it could take a number of years.

Consequently, the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, whose approval was also necessary, believe it would not be in the interests of the community of Canberra, to apply to the Holy See for approval for the sale.

Rather than draw out an already protracted process and prolong the uncertainty at the hospital and for the community, the Sisters felt they should take it no further, given the view they now have of the chances of a timely resolution in Rome.

The LCM Health Care Board has agreed with the Sisters’ decision and believes a lengthy delay would also prevent LCMHC delivering the capital investment needed in the public and private hospital at the time it is most needed –in the next two to three years.

WHY DOES ROME HAVE A SAY IN THE TRANSFER?
The proposal for the transfer of Calvary to the government was conditional on a number of approvals, including the local and governing Provinces of the Little Company of Mary, the Holy See and the ACT House of Assembly.

At the outset, Little Company of Mary Health Care believed it likely, based on close consultation with the Sisters, Canon Law advice and on both public and private statements of the Archbishop and his Vicar General that the Church approvals would be secured in a reasonable time frame. They have recently been informed this is now not likely.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE HOSPITAL?
Once the Government has had an opportunity to consider this change of position and develop new options for the Hospital, LCMHC will seek further discussions to determine the best way forward in delivering health and hospital services in the north of Canberra.

LCMHC is committed to working with the government, doctors and staff and the Canberra community to advance the interests of the community within the constraints we now face.

DOES THIS MEAN THE PRPOSAL TO SELL THE HOSPITAL WAS FLAWED?
The Government’s offer to buy Calvary public hospital and to sell Clare Holland House delivered solutions to three major structural problems currently facing Canberra’s Hospital network including ongoing capital investment, the viability of the private hospital and the future of palliative care in the ACT.

The proposal would have provided:
• The basis for the investment by Government of $200m in the public hospital whose current building stock is worth about $80m;
• The land and the financial resources to enable LCMHC to build a state of the art new private hospital; and
• A sound basis for the ongoing operation of Canberra’s public palliative care services as a mission of the Church.

LCMHC, and other major stakeholders, remain of the view that this proposal was the best way to continue the delivery of first class health services in Canberra.
What has changed is it now seems unlikely Vatican approval can be secured in a reasonable time frame.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
LCMHC remains committed to delivering the best possible quality of health and aged care to the people of Canberra.
We will continuing to operate all of our works in Canberra as a work of the Holy Spirit Province of the Little Company of Mary, which itself is an important part of the Australian Church and its heritage.

We will work with the Government and the community to determine how best to address the issues that continue to face our health network.

Media Coverage and related documents regarding the proposed transfer of Calvary Public Hospital to the ACT Government are available below.

Media coverage of proposed transfer

Questions and Answers

Further information

Auspoll Survey Report of community attitudes towards the proposed sale of Calvary Public Hospital

Little Company of Mary Health Care has commissioned independent research by Auspoll to investigate community attitudes towards the proposed sale of Calvary Public Hospital.

Click here to read the Auspoll survey report

Contact

Contact for Proposed Transfer of Calvary Public Hospital to the ACT Government:

Greg Bayliss
Communications Manager

Phone: (02) 6201 6628
Mobile: 0432 130 693
email:

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