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The Labor Party’s city-centric mantra reached a new low with the release of a list outlining the 117 hospitals under threat of closure due to the Rudd/Roxon Health Policy, according to Member for Calare John Cobb.
“The closure of these facilities would overload the Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo hospitals (for those able to reach them) to a ridiculous degree”, Mr Cobb said.
“This is a genuine attack on regional and rural health care.”
The electorate of Calare will be hit hard by the new policy with 19 of the 117 facilities named falling within the electorate’s boundaries, which equates to around 16%.
“Where are the Labor party’s apparent Regional Representatives and why aren’t they on the phone to the Health Minister demanding amendments are made?” Mr Cobb said.
If the New South Wales Minister for Health and Deputy Premier, who we can assume had a hand in releasing the figures and is married to the Federal Government’s leader of business, is worried, it’s a fair assertion that we should all be worried.
“Even the New South Wales Government is attempting to get their fingerprints off the policy and they run the worst health system in the country”, Mr Cobb said.
“If this policy is allowed to go through it will place enormous pressure on the few remaining hospitals in the electorate, it is ‘Hub and Spoke’ health care at its worst.”
Amongst the 117 hospitals under threat is every major health service between Cobar and Dubbo, a distance of 300 kilometres.
The loss of the Bourke District Hospital Nursing home has huge implications for the residents and their families who have no where close to turn.
“Serious changes must be made to this policy and I call on Kevin Rudd and Nicola Roxon to have a serious look at the implications these potential closures would have”, Mr Cobb said.
“I’m in no position to make a decision about the broad policy until we see more detail but whilst ever regional health care is threatened it will not receive my vote.”
With these revelations after less than three days of the policy being released, one must wonder what will be revealed on Monday.
FULL LIST OF THE CALARE HOSPITALS AFFECTED INCLUDED
CALARE HOSPITALS NAMED ON DAILY TELEGRAPH’S LIST
DISTRICT HOSPITALS
Cowra
Forbes
Lithgow Health Service*
Parkes
COMMUNITY ACUTE NON-SURGERY
Cobar
Condobolin
COMMUNITY NON-ACUTE
Canowindra Soldiers Memorial
Cudal War Memorial
Eugowra Memorial
Hillston
Molong
Narromine
Nyngan
Peak Hill
Portland*
Tottenham
Tullamore
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
Bloomfield
NURSING HOMES
Bourke
*Denotes New Calare Electorate
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