Health group slams Hunter New England Health for 'lack of planning' in the Manning Hospital redevelopment

At its annual general meeting on September 13, retiring president Alan Tickle chose to describe meetings with Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) chief executive officer, Michael DiRienzo, as a “virtual talk fest but no action”. His opinion is founded in the frustration of failing to secure clear instruction from HNELHD about its plans for the ongoing redevelopment of the hospital and its funding priorities.

“We have asked for a demonstration that there are actual plans, scoping, priorities and costs, so that the community can engage with both sides of politics leading into the next State election for a firm funding commitment to the redevelopment plan,” Mr Tickle said.

Mr Tickle says it is “unacceptable to the local community” that there was “no scoping beyond the present car park and renal oncology development.”

“We the committee have got a total lack of confidence in the organisation of HNELHD … show us the plans, show us the scope, show us the cost. If you had a ‘wish list’ that’s achievable - what would it look like? Update the clinical services plan because we the committee, we the community, want to come to the next election with a game plan that says we need x-amount of dollars to deliver this much to the community for this benefit, but we are not getting that from HNELHD.”

He says MGLCHAG is focused on making the hospital redevelopment an issue in the upcoming 2019 State election, and reveals its membership has grown to more than 1000 people in two years. He contends the group “has clout … and is taken seriously” as it has met with high level HNELHD representatives, the Manning Hospital general manager, and State and federal government representatives.

“I am hoping that Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead and Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams will delve a little more deeply into the issues that we have raised and will stop accepting the ‘all is well’ responses from HNELHD.

“Sorting out the priorities, planning, scoping and redevelopment costs is something that our elected members ought to insist upon before funding is allocated.”

MGLCHAG outlined its concerns and frustrations to NSW Labor opposition leader, Luke Foley in a 45-minute meeting on September 14 in Forster. 

The State government initially pledged $20 million for stage one of the Manning Hospital redevelopment, but during a June whistle-stop of the region, Premier Gladys Berejiklian committed a further $20 million, announcing “the additional funding will include the fit out of the expanded medical imaging department and new CT, ultrasound and fluroscopy equipment, as well as improvements to patient waiting areas.”

The Manning River Times contacted HNELHD for comment however as at 4pm on September 18 no comment had been received for publication. 

Statement from Hunter New England Local Health District chief executive officer, Michael DiRienzo.

“Across the district, we are continually assessing our clinical services and facilities to ensure we meet the health needs of our patients now and into the future.

To that end, the district continues to analyse service activity at Manning Hospital to identify how the hospital and public health network can best meet the needs of the Manning and Great Lakes community.

The construction of the Manning Hospital outpatients building, funded by the government’s initial $20 million allocation delivered space within the hospital for clinical expansion. The district determined the key priority for this expansion should be an expanded medical imaging department, and also include improvements to patient waiting areas.

The scope was submitted to the NSW government as part of our ongoing asset strategic planning process and in June 2018 the Premier announced an additional $20 million to deliver on it. Work is now underway on this part of the redevelopment, with construction expected to start in the first of half of 2019.

I have met with the Manning Great Lakes Community Action Group a number of times in recent years to discuss the important role the hospital plays in the provision of networked health services for the district, and also written to the group and Mr Tickle on multiple occasions.”

Hunter New England Health did not respond to a series of questions from the Manning River Times about the planning documents the district uses to determine its priorities for the ongoing redevelopment of Manning Hospital.