Member for Bega and NSW Treasurer, Andrew Constance and Health Minister, Jillian Skinner are being asked to make good on the promise that they made to keep Pambula Hospital open and retain services into the future.
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There is currently no funding for Pambula hospital once the new regional hospital opens in Bega in 2016.
A major task of the Pambula Health Service Community Engagement Committee (PHSCEC) has been to identify the role for Pambula Hospital post-2016 and present recommendations to the Southern NSW Local Health District so that discussions about future funding could start.
Those recommendations were sent to the Local Health District on Monday afternoon.
With the state government budgeting process for 2015-16 about to start in October, time is of the essence if PHSCEC members and the community want to see Pambula hospital’s future secured.
Chair of PHSCEC, Les Stahl has confirmed that 30 recommendations have been made to the health board including extended hours walk-in care for triage levels four and five.
The committee is stressing the need for anyone with a life threatening condition to dial triple zero, as ambulances carry life saving equipment and drugs with fully trained paramedics on board.
The recommendation is not without controversy as it is likely to require GPs involvement to run an after-hours clinic.
Fairfax Regional Media has been told that the vast majority of emergency presentations, over 6000, are non-life threatening and by providing care via GPs, funding comes from the larger federal government pot, leaving more money for hospital services that are state funded.
In addition to the walk-in clinic, specific recommendations call for at least 12 to 14 inpatient beds to be funded at Pambula Hospital and for redevelopment to occur on-site to enable minor hospital procedures such as infusions, inpatient procedures, renal dialysis and a range of hospital clinics to take place.
The committee has also recommended capital works at Pambula Hospital to create medical consulting rooms for visiting medical specialists and local GPs.
A mini bus shuttle service to operate between Pambula Hospital and the new hospital at Bega is also considered essential.
“Equally important is funding to ensure enhanced ambulance services for the region post-2016,” Mr Stahl said.