ACT Govt plans to take over Calvary Hospital
The owner of Calvary, the Little Company of Mary, says it would use money from the sale to build a new private hospital. (Damien Larkins, file photo: ABC News)
The ACT Government has confirmed it wants to buy Calvary Public Hospital and says it is in discussions with the owners about a possible deal.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher says the Government is investing a lot of money in the facility and it makes sense for it to take it over.
"If we're to spend 2 to 3 hundred million dollars on Calvary and we don't own those assets, these assets are then transferred to Little Company of Mary, that is something the Government has to consider," she said.
The hospital's policies on matter like abortion and in-vitro fertilisation would probably be overturned if the sale goes ahead.
The owner of Calvary, the Little Company of Mary, says it would use money from the sale to build a new private hospital.
Little Company of Mary chairman Tom Brennan says it will be easier for the Government to boost investment in the hospital if it is the owner and he does not want to stand in the way.
He says people should not be worried that the sale will reduce the variety of health services in the ACT.
"An aspect of this transaction means that we will be able to be very confident in building a state of the art new private health care facility in Bruce so that in fact we'll be enhancing our presence in Canberra," he said.
However Mr Brennan says they cannot force the Government's hand.
"That ultimately would be a decision for Government," he said.