THE NSW Trauma Plan "is making Port Macquarie Hospital so much stronger", according to Taree-Wingham Race Club chairman Greg Coleman.
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"If we put our trauma patients from our area into Port Macquarie Hospital it will boost their numbers and they will say to government, we need more funding and we need more specialists. Meanwhile we are getting less and less and we will not change our position, it's slipped in on us without the community being aware."
He contends it is cause for community concern that "a hospital servicing more than 100,000 people in the new MidCoast Council area can't look after trauma patients" and suggests "about 70 per cent of our community will not be aware of this."
"If you live in Taree, Wingham, Forster or Gloucester, anywhere in our area and are hurt in an accident, you will not come to Manning Hospital. You will be sent to Port Macquarie and your family will have to follow."
Mr Coleman is working with former Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor Alan Tickle to organise a public meeting with key health and political stakeholders.
His decision to advocate for a change to the NSW Trauma Plan comes after the May 23 five horse race fall at Bushland Drive Racecourse in Taree. Five ambulances attended the accident with two jockeys airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle with another two transported by ambulance to Port Macquarie Base Hospital. No jockeys were transported to Manning Hospital for assessment or treatment.
Mr Coleman is insistent "it's not an issue with the staff" and commends the professionalism of NSW Ambulance Service paramedics.
“The response time was fabulous. The decision making of the paramedics and their actions was just brilliant. The paramedics have protocols they have to follow and that is what I have issue with."
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