An issue over the figures used to plan Inverell Hospital’s redevelopment has prompted a delay in the call for tenders on the project, while district population estimates are revised.
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Inverell Shire Council Mayor Paul Harmon said he was “pleased with the constructiveness” of a meeting held last night [Monday October 9] between local doctors, staff from Hunter New England Health and NSW Health Infrastructure, Adam Marshall MP and two other council representatives.
“There were fairly robust discussions about the proposed redevelopment,” he said.
“It was pleasing to see that all interested parties could air their concerns.”
The Mayor said the main outcome was an agreement by health authorities to review the population figures being used to plan for current and future demands on the redeveloped facility.
“There seems to have been a disconnnect from what happens on the ground at the hospital and the figures being used to do the planning,” Cr Harmon said.
“Hunter New England Health will be looking at the new ABS figures, as well as the numbers moving through our hospital system, to see if we need to tweak the design we currently have.”
Although a call for construction tenders was expected to occur shortly, the Mayor said this would now be postponed to February.
Another meeting will be arranged before the end of this month to discuss progress.
“We need to make sure they’re using the correct data in the plan to meet the future growth for our region,” Cr Hamon said.
