The draft Service Plan for the Tumut Health Service will be the subject of a public forum on Thursday night, with health authorities and the local council calling for a strong attendance from members of the local community at a forum regarded as vital to future health services in the district.

The meeting will be held at the Tumut RSL Club auditorium from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A number of recommendations are to be presented following an explanation of the process of preparing the draft plan, with the public being urged to comment on its appropriateness, and any perceived deficiencies.

It is hoped the CEO of the Greater Southern Area Health Service, Stuart Schneider will be present, along with members of the community committee that has been working on the plan in conjunction with the GSAHS.

With health service issues having featured prominently in the columns of this newspaper of late, shire council general manager Chris Adams has again appealed for concerned citizens to make an effort to attend.

He said while the plan would be used in the design of a new hospital which it is hoped the town will have one day, it would also be of assistance in efforts to upgrade the existing hospital and its services.

He said this was an ideal opportunity for people to assist in determining a suitable level of service at the Tumut Hospital, citing as an example calls for the urgent provision of modern ultrasound equipment.

Janette Watson, manager at the Tumut Family Medical Practice, has joined a chorus of voices to call for the introduction of new technology for local ultrasound services, and provision for bulk billing.

She said Tumut was sadly lacking compared to facilities in situ at the Cooma hospital.

She said whilst a service was available locally it was subject to certain time frames of operation, limited procedures and was prone to breakdown.

"The one that's there is a bit of a dinosaur; a better machine would increase the degree of scans that could be carried out for patients here in Tumut."

She said the medical practice had written a letter to the Greater Southern Area Health Service expressing concern that the Tumut community was being disadvantaged.

Thursday's meeting will cover numerous other existing and desired services at the hospital.

The Times today carries further letters on the subject of health services and this Thursday's meeting.

Tumut & Adelong Times

September 20 2005