Drug unit closure ‘insane’

Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts (left) and Ryde MP Victor Dominello are angered by plans to close the door on drug and alcohol counselling at Ryde Hospital. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO

Local Liberal MPs Anthony Roberts and Victor Dominello have said the decision to close down Ryde Hospital’s drug and alcohol unit is “insane”.

Both politicians agree that the Government should be investing more money into the counselling service - not cutting it off.

Counselling staff told Ryde MP Mr Dominello that they see about 12 local clients per day - 240 per month.

“Where are they going to go?” he asked.

Northern Sydney Central Coast Health Drug and Alcohol Services Director

Kingsley Waterson says the counselling service is relocating to Royal North Shore Hospital, not closing down.

“The Ryde Drug and Alcohol Counselling Service will in future be provided from both the Royal North Shore’s Herbert St Clinic and an outreach program located at Ryde Community at Ryde Hospital,” he said.

“The outreach service will operate from the building adjacent to Ryde Drug and Alcohol’s current location.”

However, Mr Dominello said hospital staff had told him that the mental health facility was already overstretched and not specialised in drug and alcohol treatment.

Lane Cove MP Mr Roberts said the counselling service should stay local.

“People with a drug or alcohol dependency find it hard to travel,” he said.

“Transport is a big issue.”

Mr Waterson said the counselling service was moving to make way for a 30-bed inpatient rehabilitation centre which is to be built at Ryde Hospital.

He said services were being “realigned” but would result in no reduction of clinical services to consumers.

Mr Roberts said it was impossible for the move to have no impact on the clients. He said the

Government was hitting the most vulnerable people in the community.

“They’re turning their backs on these kids and throwing them onto the street.”

Mr Dominello said the impact would be far reaching: “If we don’t look after these people then they will continue in a life of crime,” he said.

“And that will affect the whole community.”
In an ironic twist, counselling staff told the local members that the new gambling service signage they had been waiting for had finally arrived, just before they were due to shut down.

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