A new hospital for Tumut will have to wait until after a new Wagga Base Hospital is built.

That was the clear message delivered by Greater Southern Health Service personnel at a public meeting in Tumut last Thursday evening to present the new Health Plan for the district.

At the same time Tumut was reaffirmed as "a priority ... but a priority behind Wagga" by the GSAHS's Manager of Services and Corporate Planning, Janet Chapman.

With a new Wagga Base expected to cost up to $215 million compared to a new Tumut (Level 3) hospital estimated at $20m-$30 million the news has only served to heighten the sense of frustration of those who have long been lobbying for a Tumut local health facility.

About 90 people attended Thursday's meeting at the RSL Club auditorium.

Whilst vowing to continue their campaign, members of a recently formed community action committee have expressed dismay that a new district hospital - that five years ago many locals believed would be planned and funds allocated by now, appears as far away as ever and at least seven years away.

That frustration had also been fuelled over that period at seeing other centres such as Young, Queanbeyan and Junee benefit from new health facilities.

That prompted comment from the floor on Thursday that Tumut was "continually being pushed to the back even when major shortcomings have been identified" and that "it appears Tumut has been somewhat forgotten by GSAHS".

But the chairman of the Tumut Health Service Planning Committee, Allan Tonkin, said the new Health Plan for the area for the next three years represented the opportunity to get things in place for an enhanced service, so that the area would be able to attract health professionals to Tumut, prior to the provision of new facilities.

"It's not just about buildings," he said. "We hope this plan and the committees to be formed will result in innovative ideas so professional people will want to come here.

"You can throw millions of dollars at something, but there has to be something more.

"This Plan is a great start and we just need the commitment to do it.

"Wagga is looking at several hundred million; our hospital would cost nothing like that, but if the committee works as a community based body we should be able to get what we want."

During question time it was revealed a new Tumut hospital would most likely be built on the land surrounding the existing hospital.

Facility Review

During the public meeting it was pointed out a recommendation in the Health Plan called for planning for a "complete redevelopment" of the hospital to be commenced within the next three-five years.

Ms Chapman told the meeting a review of the current hospital facilities aimed at fixing a number of problems should hopefully be finished by next May.

That review report would document a new master plan for short term actions to be carried out over the next three years.

The plan suggests the relocation of the maternity wards within the hospital, the improvement of the emergency department environment, and improved access to Community Health should have priority in the short term improvements to be carried out.

Tumut & Adelong Times

Tuesday November 8 2005