Local doctors devastated as Gulgong hospital closure comes without notice
Local doctors in Gulgong and Mudgee are devastated at the Greater Western Area Health Service’s (GWAHS) decision to close Gulgong Hospital at the end of the month, AMA (NSW) and RDA (NSW) said today.
“Local doctors only learned of the GWAHS’ decision this week and say that the GWAHS should have planned a suitable replacement for the hospital services ahead of time,” RDA (NSW) President, Dr Ian Kamerman said.
“The community, Medical Council and local doctors had only heard rumours until now, but local doctors had put forward a plan for a Multipurpose Service Health Centre (MPS) to replace the services the community would lose as a result of the hospital’s suspected closure.
“It now remains to be seen whether NSW Health will permit an MPS in Gulgong but in the interim, Gulgong residents will be forced to travel to Mudgee Hospital – with staff at Mudgee also not consulted on plans to redirect patients there.
“Doctors and medical staff at Mudgee Hospital fear they will be overloaded and unable to handle the extra patient load from Gulgong. They are concerned the hospital’s closure will mean Gulgong will face even more difficulty retaining and attracting doctors. No hospital means no emergency department or acute care facilities at Gulgong and is highly likely to mean no doctors in town.
The GWAHS say that a Health One facility, housing general practitioners, nurses and allied health staff will substitute for a hospital at Gulgong, but the reality is it will be a few months until the Health One Facility is fully operational and functional." Dr Kamerman stressed.
"A Health One is not a hospital by any stretch of the imagination, and seeks the urgent intervention of the NSW Minister of Health to guarantee funding for a hospital facility for the people of Gulgong.
“Our doctors here are very worried - the lack of adequate and suitable replacement services will seriously impact on their ability to treat critically ill patients. This is an overnight decision by GWAHS to close a vital service, with no provision of adequate, substitute services. For a town of its size, that is growing - this is just not good enough.
Local doctors and members of the community have planned a rally outside Gulgong Hospital on Monday 16 August at 10am to fight the closure.
Media Contact: Tanzeem Parkar 0419 402 955 / Dr Ian Kamerman 0488 732 679
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