Bob Bensley rejoices as tenders are called for Inverell Hospital construction

“It’s a marvellous outcome,” he said after tenders were called for the redevelopment project by member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall. 

Mr Bensley has been a constant advocate for and harsh critic of Inverell’s health services since his grandson was born in 2001, and has attended planning meetings since 2015. 

“Back in 2001 they downgraded the maternity ward from a 10 bed ward to a six bed ward,” he said.

“My daughter in law was in here three weeks after the change took place. They came here on the second night and said ‘Mrs Bensley, we need your bed.’” Mr Bensley said this had been an ongoing issue ever since.

He also felt the movement of the children’s ward to the middle of the hospital meant nurses were too busy with adults to care for the younger patients. 

He was thrilled when he found out that the maternity ward will be expanded in the redevelopment, and that paedatrics will have its own secure ward.

“The kids ward and the maternity ward having been reinstated to something like we had before, more adequate, is a real plus for me,” Mr Bensley said.

“I’m just amazed at where Adam’s got to where nobody else has looked like getting to.”

On the day, Mr Marshall also announced that he had requested an additional $30 million in the next state budget to fast-track stage two of the plan.

“I just can’t believe how good today is because not only are we getting to where we got to last December, but Adam’s made further ground and hopefully, if that Budget comes good, we’re going to go a lot further than I had ever imagined we’d be able to,” Mr Bensley said.

He said giving local doctors input on the initially confidential clinical plan was essential.

“That’s when the doctors were able to come out, say what they thought, point out the crucial problems that existed there which nobody really knew about except them,” he said.

“The fact that they were let loose made a tremendous difference.”