How did the Pambula Hospital Action Group begin?
Notice was published in the Merimbula News Weekly that a meeting of interested community members to be hosted by State Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, would be held on Saturday 22 November 2008. The Pambula Hospital Action Group was formed at that meeting.
Inaugural meeting of the Pambula Hospital Action Group
(now known as Save Our Hospital Inc.)
Aim
To vastly improve Pambula Hospital for the benefit of everyone in the Shire
The 10 Objectives of the Pambula Hospital Action Group
- To be a broad based community action group that involves local doctors, nurses, community members, Bega Valley Shire Councillors, and local members of Parliament that advocates on behalf of the hospital to key decision makers within State and Federal Government, particularly State Health Minister John Della Bosca, that services must be returned and enhanced at Pambula Hospital.
- To undertake where necessary ‘community activism’ through public meetings, media relations, website development, petitions and engagement with the local community and state based organisations such as the Rural Doctors Association, NSW Nurses Association, the Cruising Yacht Club, NSW Farmers, CWA, Department of Defence to assist with lobbying efforts.
- Require the undertaking of a clinical services review that not only examines the current service delivery arrangements but extends the review to examine services that have been lost over the past ten years, with a clear community expectation that services be returned. Review to be completed by March and involve doctors, nurses and community.
- To ensure re-engagement of those doctors who have resigned as a result of the loss of services and to ensure nurses are consulted about the needs of the hospital so that conditions are improved in their workplace
- Demand the protection of nursing staff in the event that they need to speak out about hospital problems
- To keep the Area Health Service management accountable for decisions that are being made in relation to local service delivery and inform the local community of such decisions
- To demand an overhaul of hospital governance ensuring greater transparency and accountability and an increased budget at the facility
- To see better utilisations of the operating theatre and greater resources made available to improve facilities including increased maintenance
- To recognise that Pambula and Bega Hospitals are dependent upon each other and that there is a need for better co-ordination between the two hospitals.
- To recognise that, in due course, with the construction of a new facility a process of consultation with the local community will need to be undertaken about future service delivery at the hospital
Save Our Hospital Inc. - A Significant Change Twelve Months On
With effect 07 December 2009, the community group known as Save Pambula Hospital Action Group (SPHAG)was formally incorporated as Save Our Hospital Inc. under the Associations Incorporation Act, 1984 (NSW).
Save Our Hospital Inc. is a not-for-profit association, which is wholly independent and not affiliated with any political entity. Broadly speaking, besides seeking the reinstatement of all health services, including emergency and maternity, at Pambula District Hospital that have been downgraded or withdrawn by the NSW Health Service, it is committed to securing superior health services in the Bega Valley Shire, with particular emphasis on the equitable delivery of such services and their accessibility. The health needs of remote communities to the south just across the Victorian border will also be considered as their nearest hospital is Pambula District Hospital.
The elected office-bearers of Save Our Hospital Inc. are:
- President: Geoff Dove
- Vice-President: Sharon Tapscott
- Secretary: Margaret Kirkwood
- Treasurer: Barbara McCammon
The elected Public Officer is: Geoff Dove |
