The Northern Territory health minister, Dave Tollner, has shelved plans to use a 100-bed facility at Royal Darwin Hospital as short-term accommodation for remote patients.
Federal government funded the $18 million facility that has sat empty since its completion as Mr Tollner says the NT cannot afford the $5.5 million a year to run it.
“I don’t see the role of the Health Department being hoteliers and, in that regard, in my view it won’t operate as a medi-hotel,” Mr Tollner said.
He says it does not make sense for remote patients to use the facility and is now looking for alternative uses.
