GSAHS general manager eastern sector, Ken Barnett, provided an update on hospital services and the employment of an ophthalmologist.

Other positives included increasing surgery lists, reintroducing overnight paediatric stays and increased outreach clinics for midwifery at Pambula and Eden, reducing the amount of travel time for expecting mums.

Mr Barnett said the GSAHS had made positive changes and it would continue to work with the councillors and SPHAG to ensure similar outcomes in the future.

“I thought Monday’s meeting with the councillors and the action group was very constructive,” he said.

“We provided an update on what issues we are working on that have been raised over the past six months.

“We’re looking at local surgeons working with other Bega Valley surgeons to increase the usage of Pambula’s operating theatre.

“We have renovated the paediatric area and final building works will be completed this week. They included fitting out bathrooms and toilets to make them more appropriate for kids, an isolation room and an existing ward upgrade,” Mr Barnett said.

The action group’s main focus has been the return of maternity services, but discussions on this issue remain grid-locked.

GSAHS maintained its stance of leaving birthing services at Bega Hospital, but Mr Barnett said they would be improved.

“The health service confirmed at the meeting that birthing services would remain at Bega,” he said.

“We will obviously continue to improve maternity services by recruiting direct to the unit and cut back the use of locums. We are already in the recruitment process.

“We are happy to have further discussions with the councillors and the action group.”

Mayor Tony Allen and councillors Paul Pincini, Pat Campbell, Adrian Sandrey and Michael Britten were in attendance, as was Merimbula doctor Frank Simonson.