Related story: State MP hints at 'favourable outcome'
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A FREEDOM of Information Act application will be lodged to try to expose the "patronage, usage, costs and decision making processes" applied to the Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) decision to close the Nita Reed Community Dialysis Centre in Taree.
The NSW shadow minister for health, Walt Secord on Wednesday committed to lodge a FOI Act application to assist and support the community campaign to try to keep the centre open. He visited Taree this week to meet with Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan, the chairman of Manning Hospital Medical Staff Council Dr Murray Hyde-Page, Dr David Keegan, Nita Reed and Lyn Mayo OAM.
"Taree has the greatest need for dialysis in NSW so it actually boggles the mind to close this facility," Mr Secord said.
"It just doesn't make sense to close it and the clock is ticking. We want the minister for health to intervene to drop the plan to close it."
Mr Secord's visit to Taree signals broadening State political interest in the HNE Health decision to close the centre and relocate the dialysis chairs to Forster Private Hospital. It is also a boon for the grassroots community protest campaign that is gaining support from a broad base of Manning Valley residents.
The whirlwind visit to Taree came in response to requests from Dr David Keegan who recently announced his endorsement as the Labor candidate for the electorate of Myall Lakes.
"David got on the phone and insisted that I come up to see and hear what is happening," Mr Secord said.
"Nita Reed told me how strongly she feels about the centre and how much the community wants it.
"There is concern amongst doctors about the delay in implementing and paying attention to the (hospital's) clinical services plan. It is a blueprint for healthcare in the region and it does say the greatest need for dialysis in NSW is in this region and so it doesn't make sense to close this facility."
Dr Keegan's voice and support for the Nita Reed Community Centre has been heard since the HNE Health decision was made public.
His message is consistent, HNE Health did not consult with doctors, nurses or patients and there is a case for the centre to remain open.
"Everybody involved in the Nita Reed Community Dialysis Centre is very upset about the process. Number one they (HNE Health) claim they had consultation but they just turned up and told the patients and staff that it was a fait accompli, that Mr DiRienzo (HNE Health chief executive) had signed-off on the closure," Dr Keegan said.
"There was no consultation and they did the same with the doctors and the nurses. They just told them it was happening.
"We know from an article in the Great Lakes Advocate about a year or so ago that the local member (Stephen Bromhead) knew that there was going to be a new centre at Forster. Whether he knew that it was going to be at the cost of losing the Nita Reed centre, it's just supposition but they seem to be causally linked.
"Why can't we have a centre at both locations?"
"But why can't we have a centre at both locations? The rate of growth of kidney disease and the need for dialysis services is six to eight per cent per annum - that means the demand is going to double every nine to 12 years.
"The clinical services plan highlights the need for dialysis services, oncology services and pathology services. We had a promise from our local member (Stephen Bromhead) that he would get us $20 million and that didn't happen.
"The whole of this area, Gloucester, Forster, Wingham, Bulahdelah, all rely on Manning Hospital so it's very important that we get funding. That issue, and the Nita Reed Centre are integrally linked as the dialysis services at Nita Reed saves the hospital from having to provide for it. The community paid for it, they didn't have to buy the building and in fact, they (HNE Health) got $80,000 cash when it was transferred.
"It is the only community funded dialysis centre in all of Australia and they are trying to close it."
Lyn Mayo OAM and Nita Reed welcomed the advocacy of Mr Secord and expressed their disappointment in the political representation of member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead.
Lyn Mayo OAM is angry and says "he should have been out there fighting with us on this."
"We are in his electorate but I don't think we are because it's not Forster. We have not seen him act for us on this issue. Where is he?"
Nita adds that "we are doing our best to try to stop this. The National party, well they haven't given us any hope, whereas this man (Mr Secord), coming along, he is at least going to fight it too," Nita said.
"People are turning against him (Stephen Bromhead) because he is not fighting for us. He is fighting for Forster but he is not the member for Forster. I think it stinks, you can put perfume on it but it still stinks," she added.