A CLINICAL Service Plan to expand services at Moree hospital is being created.
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Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, said it was a thorough process.
“It is a comprehensive document to justify what we need now and in the future,” Mr Marshall said.
“We can’t hotch potch and just tack things on. I am keen to see momentum in Moree, so planning ahead is critical for the future,” he said.
The renal unit is one area Mr Marshall wants to expand.
“It only has five chairs and doesn’t have a lot of room for patients to move around.
“My biggest concern for the renal unit is that the number of chairs had to be reduced because it was too cramped, and it doesn’t comply with current hospital standards. We are expecting patient numbers to rise.
“Based on talks with (acute health services manager) Bronwyn Cosh I am also concerned about the chemotherapy wards and the operating theatres,” he said.
“The need for chemo is going to rise and we want to make it more comfortable for patients.
“Moree has one of the busiest operating theatres in North West NSW due to the area it covers.
“The hospital has just spent $50,000 to keep the theatre to standard in order to keep it open.”
The announcement comes as Mr Marshall and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health, Sarah Mitchell, toured Moree and District Health Service yesterday.
Mr Marshall and Mrs Mitchell both agreed the services the hospital offer won’t be suitable for the community in the long-term.
“I am pleased we have permission to go ahead and develop a plan,” Mr Marshall said.
The community, council and health advisory committee will now have the opportunity to have their say on what services are needed at the hospital.
Hunter New England Health will run a public forum in the near future for residents to discuss how they rate the hospital and what they believe is needed.
“Think of what services will help your children in the future,” Mr Marshall said.
Unfortunately the plan doesn’t guarantee any funding from the government but maps out the community’s needs.
“But it does give me ammunition to go to government and let them know the obvious requirements for our community,” Mr Marshall said.
The plan could take six to seven months to put together and hand to government.
