A petition calling for further funding for Manning Hospital has been signed by more than 6000 of the target 10,000 signatories.
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The Manning Great Lakes Community Health Action Group recently met with representatives of Hunter New England Local Health District to discuss plans for the latest $20 million allocated for hospital improvements.
According to Alan Tickle, action group president, there was no doubt that it will be insufficient to address identified improvement needs.
“To put this in perspective, the capital spend for the likes of Maitland, Dubbo and Orange runs into $200- to $300-million for each hospitals,” Mr Tickle said.
The petition is available at local pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries.
The meeting was assured by health district CEO, Michael Di Rienzo that, while the clinical services plan for this local area was completed for a term of 2013-2017, the plan is current and does not need amending or review.
“This gave some comfort as the State Government made it quite clear in 2012 that, without a current clinical services plan, no capital funds would be forthcoming for the hospital,” Mr Tickle said.
Meanwhile, the community group will be working with the local health district, with input also from local health professionals, to identify additional development needs for the hospital. This will occur before community-led dialogue with major parties in the next few months, leading to the March 2019 State election.
“It’s important that people sign the petition because that is very much part of the funding case that will be presented before the election promises start rolling out,” Mr Tickle said.
