- That the promised Clinical Plan had been completed and was waiting to be signed off;

- That once signed off, expected (at that time) in the near future, copies would be forwarded - and available - to the local community;

- That regular updates on planning would be provided – and that ongoing consultations would take place – including with the local community.

Now, over 10 months later, the local community is yet to see the Plan – and various efforts by me to unearth a copy have failed dismally.  

I had serious doubts that the Plan even existed until Mr Di Riezno referred to it recently in an advice to me via Adam Marshall MP.  

The reference related to the establishment of a Maternity/Paediatrics Unit. I queried this through Adam Marshall on the basis that I had regularly noticed that the existing children’s ward was unused – and then discovered that there are no paediatricians, locally.  

Why then set up a unit for which there are no available specialists?  

Part of the reply I received said: “The redevelopment of Inverell Hospital has been guided by the clinical services plan. The plan utilised best practices and local demographic/epidemiology to identify the most appropriate way forward for Inverell.

“In the past year the current paediatric beds were occupied 17 per cent of the time, which demonstrates a need for children and young people requiring admission.

“New models of care across paediatrics and maternity services will allow the use of critical care cameras and telehealth technology to connect with other hospitals within Hunter New England Health for review and advice.  

“While there are no paediatricians in Inverell, our telehealth technology will allow children to be admitted and still a daily review by a paediatrician in Armidale.”

Fine. But will that solve the existing problems? 

Will that cut down on travelling to Armidale and beyond, massive disruption to family lives and major out-of-pockets?

And what else in this clinical plan might be questionable?  

Maybe nothing!  

Why then the secrecy? What does HNEH have to hide?  

It’s infuriating to think that there is a Plan there to which nobody can get access! In the meantime, the planning proceeds (one assumes).   

There is no evidence, to my knowledge, of continuing consultations with community members.  

I was invited to the first HNEH planning meeting in Inverell on September 1, 2015 and – as requested at that meeting – I provided further feedback on various matters – most of which was not acknowledged.   

More significantly, I continually wonder whether our local doctors have been consulted, face to face. In my opinion, consideration of their views is crucial in such a matter.

The foregoing keeps reminding me of 2001, when New England Health proceeded to downgrade and relocate the maternity and children’s wards at the Inverell District Hospital, without any regard for the community’s wishes – or for the fact that Inverell was on the way to becoming a flourishing town and district – the envy of New England.

Nothing in this letter should be construed as criticism of the local staff of the Inverell District Hospital. 

In my opinion they do an amazing job with what is available to them.