The 166-year-old hospital has offered many services over the years including palliative care but the lack of the “necessary investment to address the deteriorating infrastructure” has sealed its fate.
A spokesperson for St Vincent’s Health Australia, owners of the hospital, said that after an extensive period of deliberation and careful consideration, and in consultation with NSW Health, the decision was made to decommission the hospital in September.
“While St Joseph’s Hospital has a proud history of public service provision to our community, the viability and sustainability of the campus has been under threat for many years due to our ageing infrastructure,” she said.
“Given the significance of St Joseph’s Hospital for the community we have long served, and the impact of this decision has for our dedicated staff, this has been an extremely difficult decision.
“This announcement does not change any existing aged care or retirement village contract with St Vincent’s Care. We will continue to provide accommodation and support services after the closure of the St Joseph’s Hospital site next door.”
Staff will be redeployed, while patients and services at St Joseph’s would be transferred to St Vincent’s at Darlinghurst as well as Auburn and Westmead hospitals.
Auburn’s David Jansch, whose wife is in palliative care at the hospital, said the sudden announcement and “very short time frame has taken everyone by surprise”.
He said that they have spent a lot of time at large hospitals and “while the staff are doing their best with what they have, many cannot offer the absolute attention that we are receiving here at St Joseph’s”.
“The level of sincere and genuinely loving care that she is receiving is absolutely astounding,” Mr Jansch said.
“Staff have told me they are shattered, not so much because of the loss of their jobs but because of the loss of this valuable service to the community.”
Cr Helen Hughes said health services were already overstretched and the hospital’s closure would only add to the burden.
“It will greatly impact our community,” she said.
“I’ve lived in Lidcombe all my life, and am very much aware of the importance that St Joseph’s services provide. The quality of work undertaken by the staff is second to none.”
