GUNNEDAH Shire Council (GSC) has met with the voluntary administrator of the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre, as council reveals it has poured $175,000 into the clinic.
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Former mayor Owen Hasler requested a report at Wednesday night’s council meeting into GSC’s contribution to the clinic.
GSC general manager Eric Groth told the meeting the contributions from council amounted to about $175,000, made up of financial contributions, the waiving of section 94a contributions, and in-kind stormwater installation.
There were also accommodation contributions at a council-owned unit and the use of council-owned vehicles for doctors, the meeting heard.
“That's the extent of financial or in-kind contributions,” Mr Groth said, noting council was not a creditor.
Mr Groth thanked the administrator for meeting with council at short notice on Tuesday.
"The message he indicated is he’d like to convey he’s working towards a centre staffed, not only by doctors, but also looking to have the centre appropriately resourced with allied health professionals,” Mr Groth said.
Cr Gae Swain told the meeting the community at the time “could all see the benefit of a multi-use facility that could be an attraction for medical professionals in our community”.
“We're not begrudging that money,” she said.
“The board has been working so hard on this issue, and public comments by some people saying that you need to look higher up - well, I say, if you're not going to put your hand up, then put your shoulder to the wheel and don't make comment.”
Cr Colleen Fuller, who doubles as the Gunnedah and District Health Services Local Health Committee chair, thanked Mr Hayes for visiting
"We will need doctors with the town growing,” she said.
“Let’s hope we can get something.”
Mr Hayes did not respond to requests for comment this week, but told the NVI last week he was committed to working towards re-opening the centre.
"I've been approached by a number of parties who have expressed interest in taking over the centre,” he said.
"I can't guarantee it will re-open, but I can guarantee we will do our best to get it re-opened.
“I'd really like to thank the staff at the centre who are committed to getting it re-opened."
HOW IT UNFOLDED:
MPs in 11th-hour bid to save centre: July 18
STATE and federal MPs have joined the fight to save the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre.
State member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson and federal member for Parkes Mark Coulton have met with Gunnedah Health Service Administrator Alan Hayes to discuss options for the future of health services in Gunnedah.
It follows the clinic closing its doors with its only remaining doctor leaving unexpectedly last Wednesday.
Mr Hayes was appointed voluntary administrator last Friday – and he remained hopeful the doors would re-open.
The MPs said on Tuesday they will work together with the administrator to ensure Gunnedah does not miss out on the health services they need.
“Gunnedah is a growing region which is why we want to see a strong health service so that we can support the growing demand from the community,” Mr Anderson said.
“Whilst I acknowledge that this has been a privately run facility, I want to ensure that the facility stays delivering health services in some way, shape or form.
“I believe this purpose built facility has a future yet and I vow to continue working closely with member for Parkes Mark Coulton and the administrator to find a solution that will best benefit the Gunnedah community and strengthen the delivery of regional health.”
The facility opened in 2012 with federal government funding, as well as contributions from community and mining companies Shenhua and BHP Billiton.
Parkes MP Mark Coulton said he was involved with the initial establishment of the service.
“I am determined to make sure this health service delivers the care the people of Gunnedah and district need,” he said.
Gunnedah Rural Health Centre closes with no GPs: July 12
GUNNEDAH Rural Health Clinic closed its doors last Wednesday with its only remaining doctor leaving unexpectedly on Wednesday – but the administrator is hopeful it will re-open.
Hayes Advisory was appointed voluntary administrator on Friday, July 7, and plans were put in place on that day to have a doctor onsite for several weeks, starting Monday of this week.
The doctor arrived and left when his demands for payment of amounts owing as at July 7 of this year could not be met, according to the administrator.
"Unfortunately, he left late this morning," administrator Alan Hayes told the NVI at the time.
"There are no doctors for general practice.
"Plans are in place to resurrect the business and we're trying to keep the place open in the long-term.
"We've closed the centre for GP consults.
“Hopefully that's a short-term closure.
"Patient files are secure and we've made arrangements for doctor and pathology reports to be dealt with.”
Mr Hayes reassured the community he was committed to working towards re-opening the centre.
"I've been approached by a number of parties who have expressed interest in taking over the centre,” he said.
"I'm pleased with the level of interest. I'm going to advertise it and will field inquiries and interest.
"I can't guarantee it will re-open, but I can guarantee we will do our best to get it re-opened.
“I'd really like to thank the staff at the centre who are committed to getting it re-opened."
Gunnedah Rural Health appoints administrator: July 10
THE Gunnedah Rural Health board appointed Alan Hayes, of Hayes Advisory, as voluntary administrator on Friday.
The administrator is exploring means by which the Gunnedah Health Centre may continue.
The administrator has kept the doors open.
Gunnedah Health Centre was made possible with the majority of funding provided by the Australian government and significant contributions from the local community, as well as Shenhua and BHP Billiton.
“The vision that local doctors would practise from the state-of-the-art facility has proved difficult and did not eventuate,” Mr Hayes said in a letter to the NVI.
“Consequently, the community benefits expected to accrue failed to materialise.
“Notwithstanding this difficult, there remains an opportunity for the original vision and the accompanying community benefits to materialise.”
That is the goal of the administrator.
The recent engagement of Dr Martin Jodlowski-Tan as Gunnedah Health Centre’s chief medical officer has led to great interest and commitment from medical students and registrars.
The presence of a senior doctor at Gunnedah Health Centre is a pre-condition for the acceptance of medical students and registrars.
“The need for senior doctors was necessarily supplemented by locum doctors, an expensive option which was and remains unsustainable in the long term,” Mr Hayes said.
“Gunnedah Health Centre’s board would like to thank the local community, staff and doctors for their support including those who have volunteered many hundreds of hours to maintain the provision of services to the community.”
