In a rare show of cross-party unity, walkers were joined by Member for Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg and NSW opposition health spokesperson Jillian Skinner at Leura, who both vowed to fight for the hospital’s reclassification as rural.

A spokeswoman for walk organiser Hospital Equity and Access Lobby (HEAL), deputy mayor Janet Mays, said the joint commitment was a “major victory for the community”.

“Rural reclassification enables the paying of higher entitlements to clinicians,” said Clr Mays. “This would be a great step forward in our ability to attract doctors to our community” she said.

Walkers received encouragement from passing motorists who honked their support as the group endured the weekend’s warm conditions.

“Throughout the route people stopped to ask us questions and to lend their support to our cause,” said Clr Mays.

“It truly is a bl**dy long way to Nepean Hospital . . . It’s simply too far to travel for healthcare services by car and a very long way on foot!” said Clr Mays.

Leura resident Tim Millett had extra reason to lend his support. Mr Millet’s 83-year-old mum has to travel all the way to Nepean to receive chemotherapy treatment.

“It has an impact on the whole family,” he said. “And that’s not fair at 83 to make her have to do that.”

Mrs Skinner said it was important the community continue to pressure the Government to save services at the hospital. She said she was committed to not only reclassify the hospital but also to get rid of the “huge” area health services and return control to local authorities.

“Everyone’s got to keep the pressue going and eventually we’ll get somewhere,” she said.

Mr Koperberg said the Government was working to restore services across the board and was “optimistic” about the reclassification despite progress being slower than hoped. “I will not rest until this hospital is reclassified as rural.”

While many walkers, understandably, did not complete the walk, eight intrepid travellers met Sydney West Area Health Service executives at Nepean Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

HEAL presented a letter to the health minister requesting that Katoomba Hospital be reclassified and that the eight beds in the rehabilitation unit be re-opened.