Govt 'must come clean' on hospital delay Anthem Health

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner has demanded NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher "come clean" on what health services will be guaranteed in the Northern Sydney/Central Coast Area Health region Anthem Health.

"How can Reba Meagher expect anyone to believe she ever intended on delivering the hospital on time when she hasn't even developed a clinical service plan for hospitals in the northern Sydney region?" Anthem Health Mrs Skinner said in a statement.

Mrs Skinner said the budget for the hospital project has blown out to over $400 million and the deadline for completion of the planning stage pushed back another year to the end of 2008.

"Reba Meagher must guarantee that health services in the northern region will not be compromised by the government's inability to deliver the new hospital on time," Anthem Health Mrs Skinner said.