THE LOCAL hospital is in serious need of a revival according to Harden-Murrumburrah residents.
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There are two doctors employed to work at the Murrumburrah Harden District Hospital.
There is no guarantee that there will be a doctor present, or in the near vicinity at any point in time, as the doctors are employed as ‘Visiting Medical Officers’.
Harden local Robyn Hampton believes this is inadequate and has called for an improvement to the level of healthcare provided at the hospital.
“We are rural people, there are farmers in this town who work seven days a week, and the reality of farm work is that there are farming injuries,” she said.
“What are we to do when something happens and there are no doctors on hand to help?”
Mrs Hampton is also concerned for elderly residents.
“We’re an ageing population, we are in need of better health services.”
Mrs Hampton discovered the hospital was running for four days straight without a doctor during a recent visit to the hospital.
“We need a doctor on duty all the time,” she said.
She believes this would unburden the system, as patients who are attended to more regularly have faster recovery times, and are released sooner.
This was her pre-election wish in March, and Premier Mike Baird’s pre-election promise could potentially fulfil her wish.
Mr Baird said if his government was re-elected it would hire another 700 doctors and 2100 nurses over the next four years as well as providing funding to train doctors in rural areas – a policy doctors say will help improve access to care for people living outside the major cities.
For now, Murrumbidgee Local Health District operations acting director Denis Thomas said there are always nurses on hand to help.
“The hospital provides a 24 hour Emergency Department coverage and all patients who present to the ED are triaged and assessed by registered nurses trained in emergency care,” he said.
“The Hospital’s visiting medical officers are contracted to provide reasonable cover for emergency and inpatient care.”
When there are no doctors on duty, medical advice is sought using telehealth to review the patient.
“Any patients requiring a higher level of care are referred or transferred to an appropriate facility for further treatment following consultation with a Medical Officer.”
Patients seeking emergency treatment are advised to call 000 or continue to go to Murrumburrah Harden District Hospital Emergency Department where they will be assessed and emergency care will be provided as appropriate.