Hospital call. Community backs appeal to health Minister 'People of Tumut and Batlow fed up with broken Govt. promises'.

Almost a thousand signatories, or more than 15% of the total population of Tumut have given support to a letter to the NSW Government calling for a new hospital to be built in Tumut.

The signatures were collected on Friday at the first of two information booths pushing the "No Bandaids" campaign and simultaneously collecting data on concerns local people may have with health facilities, services and equipment at the local hospital.

The second information booth conducted by the community campaign committee will take place on Thursday prior to a public meeting called by the Council that evening (RSL Club, 5.30 p.m.) when the new Area Health Plan document will be officially presented.

"The 976 signatures given from passing pedestrians on Friday filled 43 pages; it was an overwhelming and staggering level of support, and they will be forwarded to the Minister for Health and the Premier, together with those to be collected on Thursday," said one of the campaign committee's leading lights, Sue Swann.

"The overwhelming consensus of opinion is that people genuinely feel Tumut needs a new hospital." she said.

"They are dead against any more renovations or 'redevelopment'.

"They want to see a firm, concrete commitment and for money to be in an account, architects employed and a contract let as a matter of urgency," said Ms Swann.

"Everyone genuinely and spontaneously felt no new hospital would impact negatively on the local economy.

"Many, having believed a new hospital was to have been built, and construction was just around the corner, indicated their anger that Tumut - and Batlow with its MPS - are being asked to wait again."

Ms Swann said there had been positive comment that Richard Pratt had joined the ranks of those pushing the campaign.

"Batlow residents are clearly despairing about their situation and want Tumut to support them; many indicated Wagga should also have a new hospital on a greenfield site, but all indicated they were fed up with broken promises in respect to Tumut hospital."

Ms Swann said there had been a degree of criticism for the council's role to date, particularly in initially accepting that the community should simply "lobby" for a new hospital. There had also been confusion about the community committee that had been appointed to lobby for a new facility.

"Most thought it had fallen over or been turned into the Health Services Steering Committee; some feared it would be taken over by the GSAHS and be muzzled by bureaucrats, thereby denying the town an independent voice."

Ms Swann said people had been eager to register their protest at the decrepid state of the existing hospital, and many had stories relating to health services below par.

."A number of mothers with young children had commented that they had given birth in Wagga or elsewhere due to the poor facilities here, or emergencies that could not be handled here.

"Medical imaging also proved to be a big problem for many. People in small business complained that they had to close their business if they had to travel to Wagga for an ultrasound; others requiring multiple ultrasounds indicated they were hundreds of dollars out of pocket. and making up the 'gap'.

"In one case a patient refused treatment unless the latest test was bulk billed, most saying they went to Canberra, Albury or elsewhere for this type of service.

"Our survey reflected a desire to see bulk billing of ultrasound, and a modern ultrasound with an operator located at the hospital to service the shire and surrounding districts, some questioned why Tumut had to contend with an old ultrasound machine and its reliability.

"There were many complaints over patients having to go out of town for basic treatments and operations which were once done in Tumut."

Ms Swann said diabetes, especially where children were concerned, had also been mentioned as a problem area.

"The constraints of staffing levels and pressures at the hospital have apparently sometimes meant patient needs in this area were overlooked," she said.

"Similarly the emergency department was also mentioned as a problem area in terms of privacy, equipment breakdowns, staffing and observation factors.

"As for maternity facilities, mothers complained of poor lighting, lack of space and privacy, sound insulation, a perceived risk of cross infection and the 'medicalisation' of something natural, i.e. previously at Sheahan House maternity was the central theme, and mothers giving birth were not mixed in with sick people as is now the case."

Apart from design and equipment, Ms Swann said there were numerous complaints over different areas where the facilities had fallen into disrepair.

"Some of those who signed the letter said they had tripped and fallen in the area near Community Health and Pathology, due to the undulating pathway," she said.

"Others complained about confusing corridors.

The computer systems at the present hospital were deemed by some to be below par; physiotherapy was deemed to be poorly catered for with no outpatients and facilities for in-patients almost non-existent and the roads around the hospital were said to be a disgrace with deep potholes.

"Previous patients spoke to us about observing water running down inside walls during rain; concerns were expressed about asbestos being disturbed if renovations were attempted, and sanitary conditions of the toilet facilities of some wards in terms of their location were questioned."

"Facilities for grieving and distressed relatives was mentioned, as was the morgue, with its location and ugliness a source of distress to some visitors and patients.

"Community Health Services buildings were said to be 'invisible' and many surveyed indicated they were not aware of the community health services available locally."

Tumut & Adelong Times

Tuesday, November 1, 2005