Mayor Abb McAlister from Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) has demanded a community meeting with NSW Health Pathology to explain the changes proposed for pathology services at Cootamundra Hospital.
In a telephone meeting with Vanessa Janissen, Chief Executive NSW Health Pathology, the Mayor and Interim General Manager were informed of the future closure of the Pathology Unit.
Mayor McAlister reiterated that NSW Pathology had previously promised a community meeting to discuss and inform the community about the changes.
“This has been a big issue for our community and the community deserves an explanation. We want to know how these changes will affect other services at the Cootamundra Hospital. Will surgery and maternity services be affected? What will happen in the case of emergencies and out of hours critical care? At the moment if a person presents to the Cootamundra Hospital on a weekend or out of hours, pathology tests can be carried out on site to assist with determining a diagnosis and treatment, those test results can then be sent with the patient if they are transferred. I’m asking NSW Pathology, what will they do in these situations?” Councillor McAlister said.
“It’s time NSW Health Pathology and NSW Health came clean with their future plans for Cootamundra Hospital, and I will be pushing for a community meeting to get them to the table to explain these plans. We can’t as a community allow any termination of services particularly when they affect the health and well-being of our community,” Councillor McAlister.
NSW Health Pathology sent a communique to Council late last week, advising that NSW Health Pathology will be facilitating information sessions at a local Cootamundra venue involving small groups.
“I feel that this is a cop out and community deserves a better explanation,” concluded Cr McAlister.
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