MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has called on Hunter New England Health (HNEH) to “please explain’’ why the Inverell and Glen Innes Hospitals were without doctors on duty on the weekend.
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On November 26-27, the Inverell and Glen Innes Hospitals were left to operate without a doctor after locums were unable to work – and the hospitals were left with no on-duty medical officers at times.
Mr Marshall said that he was concerned that this was not an isolated incident, and has since learnt that doctor services were provided at the Inverell Hospital for a further two days this week.
“I have been in touch with the chief executive of HNEH Michael DiRienzo and requested an urgent meeting to discuss these ongoing shortfalls in service – he has told me that there are no staffing problems,” Mr Marshall said. “I will not stand for the ongoing treatment being foisted on these communities and the hospital staff, proper medical backup and support is a minimal requirement, and HNEH are not meeting that at this time.
Mr Marshall said after the hard-fought battle to secure $30 million to redevelop Inverell Hospital, with planning at its final stages, the community needed guarantees about doctor coverage in the hospital.
“The community’s confidence in their health service has been shaken and ultimately the value of spending $30 million redeveloping a hospital that doctors are unavailable at for three days during a week is being queried,” he said.
“I want to see that confidence restored, because the redevelopment is essential, but just as important is the knowledge that the hospital will be properly serviced by doctors to care for locals and deal with medical presentations that a district hospital should cater for.”
