With the loss of intensive care paramedic services and the future of Cootamundra’s health services set to change, local residents are being urged by the Mayor of the Cootamundra- Gundagai Regional Council to support the petition by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP, seeking their reinstatement and retention.
In June 2024, the Cootamundra community was notified that maternity and theatre services at Cootamundra Hospital would be discontinued under the Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s (MLHD) draft Health Services Plan (HSP) for the Cootamundra Health Service.
“It seems that we have had a reprieve in relation to the maternity and theatre services however NSW Pathology seems intent on closing the Cootamundra Pathology Unit” said Cr Abb McAlister, Mayor of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council. “The message from the community has been clear, cuts like these to local health services are unacceptable!”
“The closure of Cootamundra’s pathology lab would mean longer wait times for critical diagnostic information and will ultimately compromise patient care, particularly in emergency situations. NSW Pathology claims that holding onto key trained staff as the reason why they are closing the Unit, what we need is more effort by NSW Health in ensuring that staff are appropriately trained and retained.”
“We are calling on the NSW Government to reverse this decision and ensure our community has access to the health services it deserves,” said Cr McAlister.
“We have already seen essential drugs and equipment removed from non-Category A and B NSW Ambulance stations and vehicles. This limits the ability of Intensive Care Paramedics to perform their duties and puts rural lives at risk,” said Cr McAlister.
“So that Intensive Care Paramedics can fully perform their duties. We need the NSW State Government to reinstate essential drugs and equipment for all non-Category A and B NSW Ambulance stations and vehicles!”
“The petitions are widely distributed across shops, and I strongly urge the residents of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council area to take a few moments to sign the petition supporting the maintenance and reinstatement of these services,” concluded Cr McAlister.
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Residents were out in force to protest the reduction of services at the Cootamundra Hospital.
A petition is circulating, and Mayor Abb McAlister is urging all within the CGRC LGA to put their signature to it.