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Council hosts public forum on Sale hospital with local MP'sWellington Shire Council has invited local MPs to lead a public discussion on the future of health services provided at Gippsland Base Hospital in Sale. By Wellington Shire Council - 31st January 2005 - Back to News The discussion will be held at the start of the shire’s 10am Council Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 1 February), which is being held in the Wellington Room in the council’s Port of Sale Civic Centre in Foster Street.
The MPs attending are: the Hon Philip Davis, Member for Gippsland Province; the Hon Peter Hall, Member for Gippsland Province; Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram; Brendan Jenkins, Member for Morwell; the Hon Peter McGauran, Member for Gippsland; and Member for Gippsland South, Peter Ryan.
Last November the council made a public commitment to fight for retention of the present level of all existing health services provided by Central Gippsland Health Service at the hospital, following dismissal of the hospital board and the appointment of an administrator by the Minister for Health.
This latest discussion is being held at the request of the council and provides local politicians and the public with an open forum in which to discuss the issue.
Wellington Shire Council is determined to ensure that there is no downgrading or loss of services offered at Gippsland Base Hospital, Sale – notably the critical care and neo-natal services which provide vital support to a substantial area of Victoria stretching 400 kilometres from Sale to the New South Wales border. It wants a guarantee from the Victorian Government that there will be no downgrade to any of the services offered in Wellington’s outlying centres such as Maffra and Heyfield and has written to the Minister for Health seeking a written assurance on all these issues.
Said Wellington’s Chief Executive Officer, Lyndon Webb: "We are advocating on behalf of the community to ensure that services are maintained beyond the period of administration and that a local board of management is re-established as soon as possible. We want assurances that present services provided by the Gippsland Base Hospital in Sale will be retained in full and have been seeking the support of our local MPs for our campaign.
"The Minister for Health has given a reassurance that ‘during the period of administration there will be no reduction in the range of health services available to the people of Sale and surrounding communities’. We are waiting on a response from her confirming that this will continue beyond the administration period and that there is no threat of reduction in the long term.
"Any downgrade or removal of medical services would be disastrous not just to Sale, but to Wellington and East Gippsland, which are two of the largest shires by geographic area in Victoria.
"The specialist medical services offered here are very important to sustain the growth and lifestyle of centres such as Sale, Bairnsdale and whole of this region. We know the Victorian Government appreciates this and we will be reinforcing our position whenever we can in our discussions with ministers and their senior representatives.
"Sale and its health services, including those delivered in the satellite areas in Heyfield, Maffra, Rosedale and Loch Sport are key to the health and well-being of residents in this important region of Victoria. This council will do everything within its power to pursue all avenues to ensure there is no loss of service as a by-product of the minister’s actions at this time."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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