A CT scanner and renal dialysis services must be provided at Finley.
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That is one of the demands Berrigan Shire is making in its newly revised Advocacy Strategy, after both were left out of pending upgrade plans for Finley Hospital.
One of the other key health needs outlined in the document is the provision of an Ambulance NSW station at Tocumwal, costed at about $20 million.
These are just two of the priorities outlined as vital to the Berrigan Shire community in the strategy, which sets council goals in seven key areas.
In addition to health, areas of focus are: Education, training and employment; adaptive and innovative (agricultural) industry; planning and housing; water utility and truck infrastructure; digital connectivity; and sustainability.
Berrigan Shire Council CEO Karina Ewer said equitable access to health services, and renal facilities in particular, is of the utmost importance for the shire community.
She said a number of locals are being forced to travel to either Shepparton or Albury multiple times a week for dialysis, and sometimes hospitals further away.
The community expected this would finally be rectified when $25 million in NSW Government funding was allocated for upgrades at Finley Hospital.
But Ms Ewer said as plans for the upgrades have progressed, renal services and CT have not been provided because of an “insufficient” budget.
“$25 million doesn’t buy what it used to, and so it seems they have taken out CT and renal services,” Ms Ewer said.
“That is a significant problem for our community with the number of people reliant on such services.
“Our understanding is that the provision of two renal dialysis chairs would be $150,000, so we’re more inclined to think the impediment is more about staffing.
“Council is looking at what alternative funding there may be to ensure this service is included, or whether we put pressure on to have renal services included for the original price.
“Between our community and nearby Cobram, we have enough demand for four chairs.
“Most of the renal patients go to Shepparton or Albury because closer services at Deniliquin and Yarrawonga are already full.
“And it’s one of those health treatments that once you start you can’t stop.”
The strategy outlines that providing renal services within 30 minutes from home for Berrigan Shire and district residents “will improve access to essential care, reduce travel burdens and enhance health outcomes”.
Council has indicated it is prepared to develop a business case for renal services in the community, should attempts to have renal reinstated in upgrade plans fail.
It has conservatively estimated efforts to achieve equitable access to renal facilities would cost $300,000.
Council’s inclusion of the Tocumwal Ambulance Station project in the Advocacy Strategy is a continuance of its support of a community campaign.
The Tocumwal Ambulance Steering Committee has been campaigning for a full ambulance service for Tocumwal for a number of years.
Tocumwal’s NSW Fire + Rescue firefighters are trained as first responders to offer assistance in emergencies, as the closest NSW Ambulance paramedics are in Finley and Berrigan.
Locals have long argued that as the growth centre of Berrigan Shire, and a community which doubles in size during peak tourism periods, Tocumwal requires its own ambulance service and paramedics.
There was some progress in discussions with Ambulance NSW last year when it agreed to investigate the establishment of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
These teams operate in areas without paramedics, and its members are comprised of NSW Ambulance clinical volunteers who are trained and equipped to a high standard to support paramedics in times of need.
The community is currently recruiting interested members to put forward for training.
Berrigan Shire Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean and the steering committee members have welcomed the CERT approach as a great short-term solution, but say more is needed long term.
The strategy reflects a community concern that decision makers would deem the provision of a dedicated station as no longer viable if the CERT and first responder unit were both operating.
“A permanent ambulance station in Tocumwal would ensure faster emergency response times, improving access to critical care,” council’s strategy reads.
“This would enhance health outcomes and provide peace of mind, ensuring equitable healthcare access for the community.
“It will also ensure visitors have access to acceptable standards of care during surge periods.”
Cr Cornwell McKean said the strategy overall demonstrates that council is “committed to facilitating long term, sustainable growth of our community and economy”.
“We have a proven track record of working closely with other tiers of government and private industry to deliver projects that address regional challenges and capitalise on opportunities identified by our community in their Community Strategic Plan,” she said.
“The Advocacy Plan outlines how council will work with higher tiers of government, our peers and industry partners on priority and strategic initiatives to deliver economic and social benefit for Berrigan Shire and the broader region.
“This document (the Advocacy Strategy) is a blueprint for these partnerships.”
• We will explore more of the key projects in other strategy areas in future editions of the Southern Riverina News. Meanwhile, you can find a copy of the Advocacy Strategy on council’s website - www.berriganshire.nsw.gov.au.
Senior journalist