Admitting both the Tumut Hospital and the Community Health Centre do not meet modern requirements, Greater Southern Area Health Service says it anticipates a site master plan will be completed by May next year "to identify short-term solutions to improve safety and efficiency at the site."
Acting chief executive of GSAHS, Nigel Lyons, has told the "No More Bandaid Solutions Inc" group co-ordinators Sue Swann and Pat Webb of Tumut that the Tumut Service Plan recently presented to the public had recommended that a facility review be completed by next March with the site master plan to follow.
He has also indicated the GSAHS expected to commence developing its asset strategic plan within the next few months with a condition audit to be carried out and used to review the facility against service requirements identified in the Service Plan.
He said this process would "help document any deficiencies and quantify any risks in the current infrastructure, and will provide the basis for developing short and long-term capital works strategies for the site."
He acknowledged both the hospital and the Community Health Centre are not up to modern requirements regarding functionality, integration and security.
Mr Lyons was replying to representations made to the Director General for Health in regard to the need for improved health services at Tumut Hospital and the need for replacements for both it and Batlow hospital as a matter of urgency.
Mr Lyons said the recently completed service plan confirmed the continuing role of Tumut Health Service in providing local emergency, medical, surgical, maternity and community health services.
"All current role delineation levels will be maintained. Proposed service changes or enhancements include the development of a multi-disciplinary approach to diabetes, introduction of new chronic care services including an increased focus on primary prevention and the development of an interagency approach to depression and mental illness," he said.
"The Tumut service plan also highlights concerns about the poor condition of the Tumut Hospital and Community Health Centre. Both sites are old buildings that do not meet modern requirements regarding functionality, integration and security. The service plan therefore recommends that a facility review be completed by March 2006 and a site master plan is anticipated by May 2006 to identify short-term solutions to improve safety and efficiency at the site.
"Please note that the Greater Southern Area Health Service expects to commence developing its asset strategic plan within the next few months. As part of this process a condition audit will be completed for Tumut.
Health Service and the Area will use that to then review the facility against the service requirements as identified in the Service Plan. This process will help to document any deficiencies and quantify any risks in the current infra-structure and will provide the basis for developing short and long-term capital works strategies for the site."
He said a further public meeting will be held in Tumut next March-May to present the outcomes of the facility review.
He said the letter to the Director General had also raised concerns about the access to publicly funded medical imaging services for Tumut residents.
"Please note that public medical imaging services are currently provided at Tumut Hospital appropriate to the role delineation of the local health service," he said.
"These local services are supported by more specialist services available in Wagga Wagga and by services, including ultrasound, that are provided locally by private providers." said Mr Lyons.
On the question of the progress of the redevelopment of Batlow Hospital, he said GSAHS has recently announced the appointment of the Project Director Planning, Principal Design Consultant and Project Director Procurement for the Batlow MPS project.
"This team will be responsible for detailed planning, document design and delivery of the project. It is expected that planning will be completed by June 2006 and that the project will go to tender for construction by July 2006."
He said if members of the Concerned Citizens of Tumut Shire wished to discuss this matter further, they should be encouraged to contact Mary Smit, Manager Tumut Health Service on 69471555.
TUMUT & ADELONG TIMES
Tuesday, December 13, 2005