As has been confirmed by Catholic Healthcare, Saint Vincent's will now not be shut down on June 1, in order give a consortium of doctors enough time to set up a new day surgery facility in the city.

When the hospital is shut down, nearly 100 staff members are set to go jobless. St. Vincent's is being closed down in order to convert it into an aged care centre.

"Catholic Healthcare has also approached Bob Debus and the Federal Government to determine whether we are able to source a capital grant to purchase needed equipment for the ongoing function of the hospital and so we're waiting for Bob Debus to get back to us" said the manager of Catholic Health Care, David Maher, while stressing that he has made contact with the local federal MP to lend his help in securing funds to keep the hospital running for an extra of three months.

In case the application for the additional funds is rejected, Mr. Maher has said that the hospital's new closing date will not change.