Treatment is delivered at Port Macquarie Base Hospital as it is a regional trauma service provider, according to NSW Health, and can "provide all aspects of care to patients with moderate to minor trauma, and definitive care to a limited number of major trauma patients in collaboration with a major trauma service" hospital, such as John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

Manning Hospital Health Committee Chair Don Macinnis OAM this week says the "committee wants answers about the consultation process involved in the assessment of Manning Hospital" and is determined to advocate the skills of staff working at the Taree hospital and the facilities available to treat major trauma.

"I reject any assessment that Manning Hospital doesn't fit the bill," Mr Macinnis said.

"We can cope with any trauma that comes our way and we also have access to aerial conveyance to a major trauma service hospital.

"Manning Hospital has a role to play in trauma work. There is no point in keeping a trauma department manned 24-hours round the clock if it is not going to be used."

NSW Health in its response to questions from the Manning River Times advised that "decisions relating to the destination of patients are made by NSW Ambulance" and a "NSW trauma system" with three levels of service: major trauma services (MTS), regional trauma services (RTS) and local hospitals.

Port Macquarie Base Hospital is classified as a RTS hospital and according to NSW Health, "to provide this level of service the RTS requires 24-hour access to medical and nursing staff with appropriate skills and expertise to assess, resuscitate and manage patients with major trauma; access to diagnostic services radiology, CT scanning, and pathology; access to an operating theatre if required; and access to intensive care unit and inpatient beds if required."

Mr Macinnis is adamant Manning Hospital "absolutely meets the requirements of the RTS".

Mr Macinnis recently watched an NBN News report of an accident near Forster and learned the patient was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

"I thought good God! It (the report) didn't give any indication of the injuries sustained but it struck me as absurd," Mr Macinnis said.

"I want to know why our hospital is being bypassed. We have the full scale capability to handle major trauma. We always have and we completely address all the criteria as listed.

"I reject any assessment that Manning Hospital doesn't fit the bill.

"When and by whom was this decision reached? As far as I know there was no local consultation.

"If we can find out who we need to speak to, what needs to be done to become a RTS, then we want that conversation."

Yesterday Manning Hospital acting general manager Jodi Nieass confirmed that "Manning Hospital has 24-hour access to medical and nursing staff with appropriate skills and expertise to assess, resuscitate and manage patients with major trauma. The hospital also has access to diagnostic services, operating theatres, an intensive care unit and inpatient beds if required."

"I understand that the NSW Trauma Plan also specifies designated staffing required for RTS. Specifically a part-time trauma director, full-time trauma nurse co-ordinator or clinical nurse consultant and part-time trauma registry manager. Manning Hospital does not have these positions within the hospital."

"WHAT is happening to our hospital? Is it downgrade by stealth?"

These are two questions Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan wants answered in relation to the revelation that Manning Hospital is bypassed by the Ambulance Service of NSW when it carries patients with moderate and major trauma.

Cr Hogan said he "was shocked" to learn that patients were taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital and wants to know "why has it changed and when did it change?"

"We've always been able to manage serious accidents here they get transported to Manning Hospital and from there, air ambulances are called if needed but that service and system worked," Cr Hogan said.

"I would hate to think that if a family had an accident in Commerce Street in Taree, and if part of that family needed to be hospitalised that they would have to be transported to Port Macquarie instead of Manning Hospital that is just ridiculous!

"It makes you think, what is happening to our hospital? Is it downgrade by stealth? That would be really bad news for our community."

MANNING Hospital is "bypassed for major trauma" as it is classified as a 'Local Hospital' in the NSW trauma system, according to NSW Health.

In a statement to the Manning River Times, NSW Health advised that "as per the NSW Ambulance Protocol T1, these local hospitals will be bypassed for major trauma. However, they will continue to receive minor to moderate trauma cases via ambulance and occasionally major trauma by private transport."

"In rural and remote areas, where the travel times are too great (greater than one hour) for patients to be transported directly to a regional trauma service hospital, the rural local hospitals will provide initial assessment, resuscitation and early transfer to a regional trauma service or major trauma service."

NSW Health said the development of the NSW Trauma Services Plan involved extensive consultation with clinicians and stakeholders, including:

o Local health districts

o Clinicians representing trauma, emergency, intensive care, surgery, radiology, pathology, allied health and rehabilitation services

o Critical Care Health Priority Taskforce

o NSW Ambulance

o Medical retrieval services

ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au