The committee submitted a letter to the NSW Institute of Trauma and Injury Management - the NSW government body responsible for monitoring and co-ordinating the NSW trauma system - seeking information about the process and requirements for reclassifaction from a local hospital (LH) to a RTS hospital in the NSW Trauma Plan.

In recent months, the committee learned that Manning Hospital is bypassed by the Ambulance Service of NSW when it carries patients with moderate and major trauma, regardless of their proximity to the hospital in High Street, Taree. Treatment is delivered at Port Macquarie Base Hospital as it is a RTS hospital.

According to NSW Health, "decisions relating to the destination of patients are made by NSW Ambulance" and the use of Pre-Hospital Management of Major Trauma Protocol T1.

NSW Health also advises that, "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."

Last month 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."

Manning Hospital Health Committee will meet again next week to discuss how it can continue to advance the case for reclassification.