NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has expressed “100 per cent support” for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) board, despite their recent decisions to cut regional hospital services without telling him.
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Mr Hazzard’s support comes as the MLHD announced on Friday a public meeting on Monday September 11 2017 for people to share their ideas and ask questions about the new Griffith Base Hospital. All are welcome.
In Budget Estimates, Mr Hazzard said, “Murrumbidgee Local Health District Board is a good board and the Chief Executive Officer Jill Ludford is a good chief executive. They have 100 per cent support from me.”
“The fact that I have 100 per cent support for what they are doing does not mean that I agree with everything that they do. I have expressed some concerns publicly about a decision to do with the Temora operating theatre because I feel that both the Liberals and Nationals care a lot about regional communities.”
The Liberal and Nationals are the only political parties continuing to back the MLHD, ahead of a by-election in the seats of Murray and Cootamundra – where health cuts have become a major issue.
NSW Labor are pushing for an external inquiry into MLHD, a call strongly backed by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and farmer Helen Dalton, who ran as an independent for Murray in 2015 and is yet to announce her intentions for the upcoming by-election.
NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord said, “it is mindboggling that the Health Minister Brad Hazzard would so firmly fall in behind the Murrumbidgee Local Health District board after it tried to slash pathology and maternity services in the region.”
“A Health Minister should stand up and represent patients, doctors, nurses and health and hospital workers – in the first instance.”
Save Griffith Base Hospital President Jenna Woodland is also puzzled about the Health Minister’s continued support for the MLHD. But she wants MIA residents to focus on Monday’s meeting
“It’s disappointing we received just one working day’s notice, and the meeting is scheduled during work hours. This prevents many people from attending”.
“However, consultation is a step in the right direction, and we urge people to attend if they can and ask questions. We hope MLHD holds regular meetings like this, and that next time we are given more warning and the meeting is scheduled outside work hours, or at least during a lunch break”.
The NSW Government has promised Griffith it will receive a new hospital, after weeks of protests highlighting ongoing downgrades to services and facilities.
Monday’s public meeting is a chance for the MLHD to explain what is happening, and for people to ask questions.
The MLHD has come under fire in the Riverina in recent weeks, its most recent controversial decision was to to close down Temora obstetrics without telling the Minister or local doctors.
It followed similar MLHD secret decisions to downgrade Griffith health services, also keeping government and medical staff in the dark.
Katrina Hodgkinson, outgoing Nationals MP for Cootamundra, was scathing in her assessment of MHLD managers in an interview for ABC Radio.
“I’m very disappointed at the MLHD for their arrogance in relation to this.”
“The lack of communication of MLHD is entirely unacceptable”.
The holding of a public meeting on Monday in Griffith may be an indication the MLHD is responding to criticism from politicians and the community.
The MLHD public meeting will be held at Griffith Exies from 11am to 12pm on Monday September 11. All welcome