Meeting addresses fears over health restructuring.

Fears the restructuring of Greater Southern Area Health Service will downgrade Narrandera District Hospital has prompted a meeting between the health service's boss and Leeton and Narrandera councils.

GSAHS chief executive officer, Associate Professor Stuart Schneider, has agreed to meet with council representatives on October 14 while he is at Leeton to talk with hospital staff about restructuring.

GSAHS was formed earlier this year by the merger of the Greater Murray and Southern area health services as part of the state government's plan to save $100 million in administration costs across the state and direct the money into improved clinical services.

Some 60 administration jobs across the GSAHS area are going to make cost savings.

The new administration structure will result in Narrandera, Leeton, Temora, West Wyalong, Coolamon and Junee hospitals being administered as a "cluster" by one general manager.

Narrandera's health council chairwoman, Gayle Murphy, attacked the new structure last month because it does not include a health service manager at Narrandera hospital.

The chairman of Tumut's health service planning committee, Allan Tonkin, said yesterday the same issue was yet to be raised yet in his area, but added that he would be concerned if any changes to administration ended up affecting the delivery and standards of clinical services.

He said Tumut would be in a cluster that included other existing Network 5 hospitals at Tumbarumba, Batlow, Adelong and Gundagai as well as Young, Cootamundra, Harden and Boorowa.

The Daily Advertiser

Wagga Wagga

September 23 2005