That was Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s main message when she spoke at a small rally outside Deniliquin Hospital yesterday.
Prompted by recent service changes to both maternity and palliative care at Deniliquin Health Service, Mrs Dalton was joined by about 20 people who applauded when she urged those present to “maintain the rage” and keep fighting for the services they want and need.
“With the right health services and education Deniliquin has a good future, and why shouldn’t we?” she said.
“We know Deniliquin Hospital services 20 towns from around the district and has more than 1000 presentations to emergency each month.
“The Deni population is increasing with tree changers, families and those at the end of their life, and downgrading hospital services just seems nonsensical to me.
“And now with two health ministers - Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor - to deal with, and I invite them both down here to speak with us.
“Our health services are all under pressure and it is time they commit resources to us (out here).
“I would urge you all to not stop advocating - the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Murrumbidgee Local Health District last week responded to concerns raised by community members who understood palliative care would not be available after hours and on weekends.
MLHD has confirmed that while there are staffing issues within the service, access would remain available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A specialist palliative care nurse from Finley will visit patients in the Deniliquin area providing comprehensive in-person consultations.
Locals also have access to a district-wide after hours on-call service, providing virtual specialist care for all patients outside of regular business hours.
The palliative care changes came just weeks after changes were implemented at Deniliquin Hospital’s maternity unit, due to midwives being temporarily unavailable on weekends.
With the recruitment of an agency midwife late last week, a 24/7 maternity service has now been restored.
It is unclear, however, what may happen if recruitment is still an issue when the agency midwife’s temporary contract comes to an end.
“The aim remains to be able to continue this arrangement and every effort will be made to do so,” a Deniliquin Local Health Advisory Committee post about the resumption of services said.
“The reality is that until such time that permanent positions are filled, the service does remain vulnerable to temporary changes.”
Joining Mrs Dalton at yesterday’s rally was local health advocate Shirlee Burge, who said Deniliquin and district has born the brunt of service cuts and changes for more many years.
She said the staffing challenges in maternity have been ongoing for at least seven years.
“And it is high time the government committed to reinstating and enlarging and enhancing maternity services at Deniliquin,” she said.
“We are sending so many mothers over the border, and now we have these issues with palliative care too.
“Funding has been bypassing Deniliquin Hospital for many years; we were once the third largest hospital with more than 109 beds, and now we’re lucky to have 10 inpatient beds.
“We need a $150 million upgrade urgently.
“The health district is working through its Health Services Plan now, and I urge you all to step forward, attend the community meetings and request more for our area.”
Deniliquin NSW Nurses and Midwives Association branch spokesperson Rhonda Dixon said association members “support everything Helen (Dalton) is trying to do for us”.
“Services are in dire straits, and we want to be able to keep them alive,” Ms Dixon said.
“We want to provide an excellent service for the health of Deni and district, and staffing levels won’t allow us to do so.
“What we need is permanent midwives, and paying them well would be a good start.”
~ More stories in Friday’s Pastoral Times.
13°C