The Save Griffith Base Hospital Committee is now taking an even harder stance: to fight for a completely new hospital at the rally on Saturday August 12.
The Committee’s president Jenna Woodland has outlined the rally’s revamped purpose.
“Griffith needs a new hospital! We will no longer accept that travelling two to four hours for a specialist consultation or procedure is ‘just what we do’,” Ms Woodland stated.
The committee is demanding a new hospital with orthopaedics, opthamology, urology, ear, nose and throat, radiology, social workers, better psychiatry among other services.
After the decision to reverse the cut Griffith Base Hospital’s pathology service, Ms Woodland and the committee stated it was ‘more important than ever’ to fight against complacency over the ‘dismantling’ of the Griffith base hospital.
“We were told that pathology services were being downgraded. They were closing down histopathology and moving it to Wagga. Other sections of the lab were being affected as well...that is one step closer to the demise after the change in radiology services and closure of the central sterilisation service at the base.”
“Many patients are being referred to Wagga for procedures that can be done right here. It’s time we stand united and demand a new hospital complete with all services.”
“If you want to know what that might look like, you can find it at St Vincent’s Private Hospital: It is a state of art facility, only available to a small percentage ... We need a new public hospital to complement the private.”
The previous mantra of “dismantle our hospital, and we’ll dismantle your seat’” has already seen the rally receive an avalanche of attention across newspapers and both television and radio stations.
The rally will be held this Saturday August 12 at 11am, Memorial Park.
“We are urging all community members to show their support on the day, and to sign the petition at the rally confirming we need a new hospital.”
