The people of Wee Waa are fighting for improved access to healthcare. Moreover, they are scared, more than ever, about the shrinking emergency department status of their hospital. The facility has been operating without an onsite physician during posted hours. This type of setup endangers the community, particularly when emergencies arise outside of normal business hours. The urgent need for consistent, around-the-clock access to medical support has galvanized local leaders and residents to demand and work toward real change.
Mayor of Narrabri, Darrell Tiemens said he was let down by the details divulged about Wee Waa Hospital’s operating procedures. He joined the Save Wee Waa Hospital committee members. Their testimony represented the community’s frustrations and demanded a more resilient and equitable healthcare system. “We did get some promises around potentially a VMO (Visiting Medical Officer) would be signed up, there would be an emergency department or emergency care would be part of the mix, but still there’s a lot of vagueness around it,” Tiemens expressed.
Community Response and Concerns
The community’s fear is obvious, especially for the parents. Homeowner and mother of two Kate Kahl expressed her concerns about her kids’ abilities to play outside without fear. She is most worried given the cutting back of hospital hours. She stated, “There’s literally a hospital 10 minutes from my home, but it’s closed behind a large gate,” highlighting the frustration many feel regarding access to care.
Kahl’s sentiments are echoed among his fellow residents of Wee Waa, who find themselves “angry and frustrated” by the current situation. The undersupply of emergency services has sparked alarm over a lack of readiness for unexpected crashes when immediate medical care is most needed.
To address these concerns, local leaders organised an emergency public meeting with Wee Waa residents on Monday night. They engaged in advocacy to put plans in place for a 24/7 emergency service at the hospital. This meeting provided an excellent opportunity for them to hear community concerns and lay out the plan for next steps to achieve full medical support.
Plans for Improvement
Tracey McCosker, a spokesperson for Hunter New England Health, threw out an ambitious target. The health district’s vision is to start a 24/7 emergency care service with a physician on site. She warned these policy changes won’t happen overnight. “The reality is quite complicated and the changes will take some time,” McCosker noted.
McCosker emphasized the importance of collaboration with the community, stating, “We will continue to work with the community through collaborative care, in conjunction with the Rural Doctors Network.” This new commitment will help fill gaps in care and ensure that local voices are included in the health planning process from the get-go.
date), a community working group will meet and decide on the best dates for making the changes permanent. At the time of the meeting, the report had only made 20 recommendations. One major recommendation was to implement a single-service model encompassing both Wee Waa and Narrabri health campuses.
Challenges Ahead
In spite of this laudatory local talk, getting many of these contracts pulled together with local GPs remains a challenge. A contract that suits pay schedules for rural generalists. Roy Butler, the local transportation advocate who helped launch this initiative, has been going door-to-door, connecting with residents to gauge their frustration. He remarked on the difficulties faced in negotiating with healthcare providers: “It’s really sad that the only thing that’s blocking that is red tape and a pay grade.”
Butler has met with federal government representatives in the past seeking negotiations to make amendments that can bring qualified medical professionals to Wee Waa Hospital. His continued work shows the community’s collective resolve to fight for improved access to healthcare.
