MEMBER for Barwon Roy Butler recently introduced a Bill to split the Hunter New England Local Health District, with the Bill prioritised and referred to a committee for review.

“The speed with which it moved through the Assembly was a sign the Government is supportive of a discussion about HNELHD and whether it is operating in the best interests of the country towns within the health district,” Mr Butler said.

“The review will look at whether splitting the health district would allow a separate New England LHD to focus better on the needs of the local community.

Mr Butler said an amalgamation 20 years ago between Hunter Area Health Service and the New England Area Health Service was supposed to improve services.

“The amalgamation was meant to make things better for patients and staff, but the stories from constituents tell another story of understaffing, under‑resourcing and an unresponsive, uncaring health district administration,” Mr Butler told parliament.

“This is not about our overworked nurses and medical staff. This is about the management structure that should support them. The amalgamation was meant to make things better for patients and staff, but the stories from constituents tell another story of understaffing, under‑resourcing and an unresponsive, uncaring health district administration,” he said.

Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park, also recently announced an independent review specifically into Wee Waa Hospital, to focus on the “current and former service models and make recommendations to ensure residents can access safe, sustainable services now and in the future”.

A group of Wee Waa residents, led by Narrabri Shire mayor Darrell Tiemens, set up shop at Martin Place in the centre of Sydney to get signatures for a petition to save Wee Waa Hospital.

Mr Butler said the review will look into the ‘health needs of the local community, workforce recruitment and retention, decisions around services and models of care’.

“This independent review is something I have asked for, for some time,” Mr Butler said.

“I want to thank the Minister for his consistent and unwavering support in the efforts to keep Wee Waa Hospital open and to return it to normal operations.

“I am urging HNELHD to engage openly in the review but in the meantime that they continue their efforts to recruit staff to fill the vacant positions at the hospital, to give the community in and around Wee Waa the health services they need.

“Part of the problem is that Hunter New England has failed to recruit adequate staff at hospitals in Narrabri and Wee Waa.

“In April, 2023, Hunter New England announced that in May the Wee Waa hospital would operate from 8am to 5pm. Any patients presenting with emergencies outside those hours were to be sent to Narrabri Hospital, and there are signs that Narrabri Hospital is struggling with that increased workload.

“Wee Waa is a town of around 2000 people but the hospital serves a much larger area. It takes in the towns of Rowena, Pilliga, Gwabegar, Burren Junction and Merah.

“People from this large rural area rely on the medical service they get from the Wee Waa hospital. For instance, if a person from Pilliga needs stitches for a wound, instead of travelling only 40 minutes to Wee Waa they would need to travel around an hour and a half to Narrabri because a laceration requiring stitches cannot be dealt with at Wee Waa,” Mr Butler said.

Meanwhile, a drive for signatures on a petition to save Wee Waa Hospital was ramped up recently when a group of local residents, led by Narrabri Shire mayor Darrell Tiemens, set up shop at Martin Place in the centre of Sydney.

The petition has so far received more than 10,000 signatures.

The review specific to Wee Waa Hospital is expected to begin this month and deliver a report to Government in mid-2025.

Cr Tiemens welcomed the review but said Narrabri Shire Council and the Wee Waa community is still firmly focused on the hospital reopening to full capacity.

“While the inquiry is very welcome, the immediate re-opening of the Wee Waa Hospital with 24/7 emergency support and doctors is our primary concern,” Cr Tiemens said.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the review aims to “get to the bottom” of the Wee Waa debacle.

“Like all regional and rural towns, it’s important to me that the Wee Waa community has access to the health care services they need and this independent review is about making sure we’re getting to the bottom of that,” Mr Park said.

“Improving access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities is one of my key priorities as Regional Health Minister and the (review) announcement is an important milestone for healthcare in the Wee Waa community.

“I would like to thank the Member for Barwon Roy Butler for his advocacy in ensuring the voices of Wee Waa residents are at the forefront of shaping future health initiatives.”

Meanwhile, Inverell Shire Council has resolved to support the inquiry into the proposed splitting of the Hunter New England Local Health District and will prepare a submission in response to the draft Health Services Amendment Bill 2025, introduced by Mr Butler.

In February last year, in response to ongoing concerns about service levels at the Inverell Hospital,

Inverell Council supported the call for an external independent inquiry into the management practices of the Inverell Hospital and the tablelands sector of the HNELHD.

Despite backing from the NSW Country Mayors Association, the request was ultimately declined by the NSW Government.

Council representatives, alongside members of the Inverell Health Forum, have continued their

advocacy efforts with the State Government and HNELHD representatives to improve health service levels at Inverell Hospital.

Council remains committed to its resolution of May 22 last year to advocate for improved hospital services in line with reasonable community expectations.

Inverell Council will monitor contributions to the public inquiry when it commences, prior to finalising its own submission and will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes for the Inverell community.