No representation from Griffith region on new Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel
The establishment of a new Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel with no representation from the Griffith region, has angered Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton.
The panels role is to improve health outcomes and will form a direct a conduit to NSW Government.
Mrs Dalton said the Griffith hospital services a wider rural population of around 80,000 and is key foundation of the community. In 2021 it had 19,500 emergency presentations, 2,500 operations and 600 births.
Mrs Dalton questions the impact of such a panel, when the biggest hospital in the Murray electorate has been left out.
“Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor tells us a key focus will be to identify and outline a vision and action plan to strengthen rural health.
“How will that happen if a hospital like Griffith doesn’t even have a seat at the table. Current services aren’t keeping up with demand and will only continue to worsen, we must have representation on this panel,” Mrs Dalton said.
Mrs Dalton said she is sick and tired of NSW continuing to treat Murray with disdain simply because it is a rural seat and geographically sits well outside of Greater Sydney.
“Don’t these people realise over $6billion in staple food production comes out of the Griffith area? “We stand to lose a lot more if we don’t have adequate rural health services,” she said.
The panel was unveiled as part of NSW Governments response to the Rural Health Inquiry which ultimately found regional and remote NSW residents have poor health outcomes, inferior access to health and hospital services and face significant financial challenges.
The inquiry resulted in 44 recommendations, 41 of which have been supported.
She also acknowledged NSW Government had announced funding to address some of the issues however, she was extremely disappointed to note there was no mention of patient staff ratios as a potential solution.
Mrs Dalton welcomed the appointment of Deniliquin woman Laura Hand-Ross to the panel.
