When the Deputy Administrator of the GSAHS. Dr Joe McGirr last year told members of the Tumut Hospital Planning Committee, which has been lobbying hard for the new hospital, that it was appropriate to start the planning process, and that an investigation commencing the early stages of that process was to be undertaken, there were high hopes of a new hospital by 2007.

Dr McGirr (former CEO of the Greater Murray Area Health Service) did emphasise, however, that timelines could not be placed on the project as progress depended on funding being available from the NSW Government under their Capital Works Program.

Convenor of the Tumut Hospital Planning Committee, Chris Adams, said the Tumut Hospital Committee had welcomed the positive view on the process towards a new hospital in Tumut shown by Dr McGirr and Ms Janet Chapman from the Services Planning Unit.

"The committee had previously been advised by staff from the Health Service where Tumut Hospital sat within the Capital Works List. The advice at that time was that the highest priority was with the Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Junee and Hay Hospitals." said Mr Adams.

"Dr McGirr pointed out that although these other hospitals had a higher priority than Tumut, all now have some action happening, either through actual works underway, or are going through the planning process," said Mr Adams.

Earlier last year the Tumut Hospital Planning Committee presented a submission to the Health Minister's Rural Adviser calling for funds to be provided to allow an early commencement on a Procurement Feasibility Plan as the first step into the process towards a new Tumut Hospital by 2007.

That submission also sought a commitment from Health Minister Morris lemma that construction take place within the current Works Programs.

The committee was particularly keen to clarify the current position given earlier advice by Dr McGirr's GMAHS predecessor, Karen McPeake, who said a new hospital was on the Forward Works program for replacement and predicted a sign off on a new Tumut hospital in two to five years.

Ms McPeake had forecasted a cost of approximately $10 million, and indicated a new hospital would retain operating theatres and obstetrics, and have more flexible wards than currently is the case.

Meetings two years ago of the committee with the Capital Works Manager and the acting manager, Policy and Planning with the (then) GMAHS, also indicated a new Tumut hospital was on the Forward Works Program, to be carried out after the major upgrade of Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, and that it was anticipated to cost roughly the same or slightly more than the West Wyalong Hospital, completed in 2000 for $8 million.

The advent of new digital technology will add to the cost of fitting out a new hospital. Young hospital, part of the same health "cluster" in the new admin of GSAHS has been fitted out with new digital equipment, including radiology, which will come on line in 2006 when optic fibre is connected and operational.

Tumut's X-ray equipment is analogue, over 11 years old, and there is no ultrasound, unlike other hospitals such as Deniliquin, Cooma and Young.

Tumut & Adelong Times

Friday October 21 2005