Here we go again.
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Our new hospital looks to be a stunning building. On the outside everything is looking great but on the inside it is a totally different story.
Why is our present hospital so understaffed and why Is Bourke Street Health Service also so very understaffed. Staff are leaving. Why? The staff at both locations are run off their feet and the powers-that-be need to answer as to why this is happening.
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Broken promises and secrecy by the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) now reducing bed numbers including those of palliative patients before the new hospital is opened is nothing short of disgusting in the extreme with no compassion for those who require palliative care in a place where they are assured of dying with dignity and receiving the proper care that they deserve. I remind those who are making money-saving decisions that they are playing with the lives of people. It is not on.
The guts has been ripped out of the health system and the public is suffering due to the incompetence of government and controlling health boards.
Four years ago the Goulburn community came on board in support of our hospitals and the nursing staff. It is shaping up to another fight to show our support for staff and the end care for patients.
It was not that long ago that the NSW government came and had their feel good political photo shoot as the building was going up. There is an election coming and politicians are everywhere trying to convince the voting public that they are the ones for the job. Think again politicians. The public is awake to you.
Instead of standing up for photo shoots, go inside and take note of what under-staffing and underhanded decisions by the powers-that-be looks like. No doubt the staff would be risking their jobs if they were to speak out. Walk in their shoes for an understaffed shift and see for yourselves just how hard it is. Stand beside the bed of a dying patient and explain to them that they are not entitled to death with dignity because you said so.
The Mayor, Bob Kirk, is now saying that he has written to the SNSWLHD about the issue. This is just a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
I would suggest to the Mayor that he address this urgent issue with the Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman to ensure that she does what she was elected to do. That is to look after the voters in this electorate and forget about posing for photo shoots in an effort to boost her profile leading up to an election. Enough is enough!
It is all well and good to have a new hospital (with no extra beds) but you have to have the doctors and the nursing staff to operate the place.
The Mayor was also espousing the monies that had been invested in new housing for Goulburn. Goulburn is growing and as much as we welcome progress, this growth places extra pressure on our health system.
Also, has there been a decision made as to where the oncology unit is going to be within the new hospital, as was promised. There was a well supported and determined campaign to ensure that our oncology unit was not going to be moved until the new hospital was built but where is it going to be located within the new hospital? We fought for what was right before and will do so again if necessary.
Handing back the Bourke Street facility to the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra/Goulburn raises another point. What is going to happen with the hydrotherapy pool? My guess is NOTHING and for those who rely on that pool there is only one alternative and that is The Hub.
Another non-sensitive decision and all because of the almighty dollar savings. Remember that the pool was built with public funds.
Fran Croft, Goulburn.
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