During the state election campaign, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson had announced $2 million would be there for a hospital upgrade.

It’s not a huge amount. As everyone knows, $1 million doesn’t go far in a building or on a road these days.

But it was definitely something to address the aches and pains of an ageing building, even if it would not go far enough to look at the changing technological needs.

There was a very reasonable expectation within the community that the money would be available in the next budget.

There was some shock when it was not included as a line item anywhere in that document.

As chairwoman of the Gunnedah Health Advisory Committee Colleen Fuller said following the release of the budget, we have a strong community who work hard to achieve the best for our hospital and many other services and organisations. But our “paltry” $2 million from the state government was nowhere in sight.

It still might be some time before that money is actually put into action.

And, as we go through the processes, the building is getting older and the problems compound.

Thumbs up for the $2 million which is there after all.

But will it even go close to being enough? There are already calls for dialysis equipment and now a TENS machine for cancer patients.

This is an area where the pressure will have to continue.