Council backs push for new hospital. Boost for hospital replacement campaign. Council votes to lend support.

Organisers of No More Bandaid Solutions, a group pushing for a new Tumut Hospital, will meet this week with business, medical, and community representatives to plan the next phase of their campaign.

Under discussion will be the unanimous decision by Tumut Shire Councillors last week to back the campaign and to lobby the State Government for funding for a new hospital.

Tumut NMBS spokesperson Sue Swann said the group was delighted with the support pledged by Tumut Council and are keen to see an early start to delegations to Parliament House and an active lobbying process by Councillors.

A petition signed by 1800 residents of the Tumut district was presented to Deputy Mayor James Hayes by president of local group No More Bandaid Solutions Inc., Kevin Swann, at the council's monthly meeting last Tuesday night.

The petition pointed to the poor state of Tumut District Hospital buildings as being "inefficient, inappropriate, unsafe and in urgent need of replacement," and asked Council to take up the issue with the State Government as a matter of urgency.

Council general manager Chris Adams expressed some misgivings about the "language" contained in the petition at last Tuesday's meeting' describing it as "quite strong."

Mr Adams said he needed clear direction from the councilors regarding the council's role in the push for a new hospital.

"We have been working with the Greater Southern Area Health Service on this issue through its health service advisory council do we continue to work with that body, or abandon that process and go down this new path" Mr Adams said.

"The petition states this council should take this matter on as a top priority - does that mean we drop everything else until we have a new hospital?"

Ultimately, councilors voted for the council to begin lobbying the state government for a new hospital, in conjunction with the council's involvement with the GSAHS advisory council, in a resolution Mr Adams said was "entirely appropriate".

Meanwhile, this week's No More Band Aids campaign meeting will concentrate on the economic aspects of the issue and the likely implications for Tumut's industries and business operators.

Richard Pratt, Chairman of Visy Industries and one of Australia's leading businessmen, has already endorsed the campaign.

According to statistics, Tumut currently leads small towns in the region and continues to grow, offering a unique opportunity for investors and developers, especially those seeking a "tree change".

"All that is needed for that to happen is for the NSW Government to invest in our health infrastructure, now, not in ten years time," said spokesperson for NMBS Inc., Sue Swann.

"The people of Sydney would not expect to have to travel to Gosford or Newcastle without public transport for basic medical services.

"So why should the people of Tumut have to put up with it, especially as fuel prices rise? We urgently need a new hospital," she said.

"Easy access to affordable ultrasound and other medical imaging continues to be a problem for Tumut district residents, especially for low income earners."

NMBS Inc. says it has also been approached by several residents with grave concerns about conditions at the hospital, especially maternity facilities.

"Young mothers are repeatedly calling for the re-opening of Sheahan House to overcome some of the problems in the short term," said Mrs Swann.

However, NMBS Inc. acknowledge that whilst this would address many of the issues such as privacy, space, cross infection risk and proximity to general wards, it would not solve the lack of obstetrics and anaesthetist services.

A new hospital, properly designed and equipped with modern facilities would help attract doctors with those skills to the district who were prepared to stay, said Mrs Swann.

"As the Tumut Health Service Plan emphasises, an integrated approach to the provision of medical services is needed. The provision of a new, modern hospital is vital to the success of that plan," she said. "Bandaid solutions are a waste of time and money. We have been patient long enough."

This week's hospital campaign meeting will discuss all of the above issues and more. Any member of the community who wishes to raise a specific issue with the campaign team can contact the secretary, Sue Swann on 02 6947 2084 or use other contacts at www.nomorebandaids.homestead.com .

Tumut & Adelong Times

May 2 2006