Sir - Did Ground Hog Day come to Tumut last Thursday?

That's what it felt like when I attended the public meeting about the draft health services plan for Tumut. Same forum, same people, same problems, same bureau-speak, same promises, (or lack of them).

To give them their due, the area health administrators have spent many months consulting with community representatives in Tumut about what should be in the plan. The ideas put forward by locals are included in the document, as are the problems that they identified.

After considering this information, the administrators have made a number of recommendations which will form the basis of a plan for the delivery of health services in Tumut covering the period 2006 - 2011. The purpose of the public meeting was to give locals an opportunity to comment on those recommendations. It was unfortunate, therefore, that only a short period of time was allocated for questions and comments following the excellent presentation of the draft plan in colour on a screen.

During question time, two speakers from the floor referred to the recommendations as "flim flam", and I would have to agree. They do seem to lack substance and seem careful not to make clear, concrete undertakings for measurable outcomes.

My major concern for the Tumut community is that although the biggest and most urgent health problems are identified, lack of doctors, specialist services, poor infrastructure etc. there is no prospect of them being fixed. This is despite the huge efforts made by the community recently to attract investment and big business to the district, resulting in a booming economy.

Instead, the community is being asked by the area health administration to "lobby" for a new hospital and new community health buildings over the next 3 - 5 years. Lobby? Excuse me?

As one speaker said, we had been lobbying for the past 7 yrs, had been told we were on the public works program and promised a new hospital in 10 yrs i.e. in 2008. Now we are being told Tumut is not currently on the Public Works Program, a new hospital is not on the agenda, not even on the horizon, and we should sharpen our pens and write to our politicians.

On page 54 of the document being presented, under the heading "8.2 Infrastructure", it is acknowledged in black and white that:

"The condition of the Tumut District Hospital and Community Health buildings is very poor and has a direct influence on the ability of the health service to provide safe, efficient and accessible services."

Rough translation: the hospital is old, run down, unsafe, and cannot provide an adequate health service.

The report goes on to say even worse: "The emergency department is inadequate with no private space for dealing with mental health clients, resuscitation emergencies or distressed relatives." Rough translation - the hospital emergency dept. is a health hazard.

Both the maternity ward and community health centre are also singled out as being poorly designed and having problems serious enough to contemplate relocation.

The report also states that Tumut had, under the former administration, been prioritised for redevelopment. The recommendation on these matters, however, reads like something out of a "Yes Minister" script and I quote:

"8.2.1 A facility review will be completed by the GSAHS Asset Management service and a site master plan will be developed to outline possible short term (3-5 years) solutions to the current infrastructure problems. This would include as a priority improvement of the emergency department environment, improved access to Community Health and consideration of the relocation of the maternity wards within the hospital. 8.2.2 GFAHS, the Tumut Health Service, and the local Health Council will lobby NSW Health to include the complete redevelopment of Tumut Health Service on the capital works program within the next 3-5 years."

Rough translation: We'll talk about some renovations and draw some plans some time before the end of 2011. (Note there is no actual commitment to building or supplying anything).

There are some good ideas in the plan, even visionary, and some areas of health management which should be followed through e.g. the co-ordination of services for aged care, palliative care, chronic illnesses, wellness programs, preventative medicine, the treatment of mental illness etc.

However, in my view it is essential at this point in Tumut's history that we need to address the biggest problems first. It's not 'the time to doff our caps and make do with what we've got. It's time to say out loud "The emperor has no clothes!" and he needs to get some pretty quick!

The reality is that rural health is in crisis. We need doctors, nurses, specialists, medical schools, and allied health workers. We will not attract these highly skilled people to rural areas without being able to offer fully equipped, modern hospitals and surgeries. Let's call a spade a spade. The need for infrastructure comes first.

And in that vein, it has been said that "soon there will be no need to pay the fees associated with private ultrasound, as new facilities will be available at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital". That single machine will indeed ease the situation for inpatients at the base hospital, but how many outpatients do you think will be able to access it from the whole region? It is not just Tumut that has this problem. It applies to all patients in the region. Imagine the queue.

One new ultrasound machine at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (however welcome) does not solve Tumut's problems. I see no change for the people of Tumut who will still be travelling to Canberra for radiology in droves, as they have been for the past 18mths. Incidentally, the draft plan does not appear to reflect the numbers of Tumut district residents going to Canberra for radiology because the statistics used are for 2003/4.

I have been outspoken about these matters recently, but I make no apology. Having lived here for almost 34 yrs I care about the place and the people who live here who are decent and still have a sense of community. Our hospital is crucial to the wellbeing not only of our physical health, but for the health of our economy and our sense of community security.

Residents are being given the chance to make comments or written submissions about the Tumut Health Service Draft Plan 2006-20011 before it is presented to the next public meeting on Thursday 3rd November 2005. The steering committee meet on Thursday next week to consider any comments and submissions before the final draft plan is prepared.

I urge all residents to read the plan and to comment on it. It's our town's wellbeing that is at stake. If you don't care about the town's future, don't comment or attend the next public meeting.

If you do care, then read the plan and make your views known to the health administrators. They are: Mary Smit, Health Service Manager, Tumut Hospital; Jennie Fischer, Health Service Mgr., Community Health, Tumut Hospital; Janet Chapman, Mgr Service & Corporate Planning, GSAHS Albury.

The final draft Tumut Health Service Plan 2006 -2011 will be presented for adoption by the community at the next public meeting scheduled for Thursday 3rd November. My hope is that every family in the district will be represented at that meeting. I also hope that residents will say in no uncertain terms that this community deserves a d a modern health service appropriate to our needs. We cannot have that until our old hospital is replaced by a new one, which is fully equipped with modern technology.

There is no reason why Tumut cannot be an acute health care centre for the whole district, complete with a fully staffed radiology clinic equipped with the latest technology. It's all a matter of planning and business management.

Perhaps Mr Costello could pass a few crumbs from his newfound surplus our way. I for one would rather see that money spent on rural hospitals than on $6 tax cuts any day.

Yours etc,

Sue Swann

PO Box132

Tumut 2720

Tumut & Adelong Times

Friday September 30 2005