Blue Mountains Hospital Equity and Access Lobby (HEAL) has applauded the combined efforts of NSW opposition health spokesperson Jillian Skinner and Member for Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg for delivering a strongly-worded motion in State Parliament about the provision of services at Katoomba Hospital.
Mrs Skinner first brought the motion, calling on the Government to honour its promise to keep the hospital’s maternity unit permanently open, to Parliament in October 2008 but it was not passed and debated.
Last month the motion was unanimously passed in the Legislative Assembly after an amendment by Mr Koperberg was included — for acknowledgment of current concerns about staff recruitment and calling on the Government to direct Sydney West Area Health Service to do all that is necessary to permanently maintain services at Katoomba Hospital.
“We really appreciate their efforts in bringing this motion before Parliament, especially the amendment by Mr Koperberg,” HEAL spokesperson and Blue Mountains deputy mayor Janet Mays said.
The lobby group has planned a two-day walk from Katoomba to Nepean Hospitals for November 28 and 29 to emphasise the distance involved and the importance of maintaining health services in the Blue Mountains.
Mrs Skinner has agreed to walk with HEAL members from Katoomba Hospital to Wentworth Falls and Mr Koperberg has confirmed he will meet the walkers at his Springwood office.
“HEAL is hopeful of meeting the NSW Minister for Health at the completion of the walk to hand her a letter requesting that Katoomba Hospital be reclassified as a rural hospital and that current service and bed closures be prioritised for re-opening,” Ms Mays said.
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