REPRESENTATIVES of the Bathurst Health Services Action Group have met with the Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding the provision of clinical services.
The meeting last week was arranged by Member for Bathurst Paul Toole at the group’s request, and he sat in for the chat.
Bathurst Regional councillors Warren Aubin and Graeme Hanger were also in attendance.
The group said it was a productive meeting and they have come away from it feeling positive.
“We really appreciate Paul setting up the meeting and coming along with us,” Cr Aubin said.
“It was productive, and the minister gave us the time we needed to present our concerns.
“He has asked the area health service to provide a response to the concerns raised within 21 days.”
Among the concerns discussed at the meeting were the number of residents forced to travel to Orange when essential services aren’t available in Bathurst.
“This issue is not about the quality of care that the dedicated professionals at Bathurst Hospital provide, it’s about making sure adequate resources are there to allow them to meet the demand,” Cr Hanger said.
The group also spoke to Mr Hazzard about the need to implement a 24-seven emergency orthopaedics service in Bathurst.
Cr Aubin spoke to the Western Advocate about this idea last month, explaining that it would allow another orthopaedic surgeon to be employed in Bathurst and create a chain reaction that produces more beds, registrar doctors and physiotherapists, effectively growing the hospital.
Other issues discussed at the meeting include the need for more beds, more staff, and increased obstetrics and gynaecology services.
Cr Aubin said that the group also wanted to ensure that Bathurst’s needs are properly considered in the planning process, which is currently under way through the Bathurst Region Clinical Services Review.
“I’ve made a submission to the review process, as have others from the group. Basically, we just want to make sure that Bathurst doesn’t just become a satellite hospital for Orange,” he said.
The Western NSW Local Health District periodically carries out reviews of clinical services and the latest was launched early this year.
Public feedback was sought and in May it was revealed that some of the areas of concern were how to better integrate care and the need to improve access to some types of services, including an MRI machine and orthopaedics.
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