Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey is calling for a decision to be made on the future of the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre (GRHC).

After GRHC appointed voluntary administrator Alan Hayes, of Hayes Advisory on July 7 – a lengthy negotiation process and due diligence has been completed with preferred party Mackellar Care, however the future of the clinic still hangs in the balance, causing frustration in the community.

“Due diligence has been completed by Mackellar Care and now we just need to move forward and provide an outcome for our community, who have been heavily inconvenienced by the lack of access to health care,” Cr Chaffey said.

“There are doctors ready and waiting to go but they can’t wait forever.

“It’s integrally important that residents have access to doctors when they need to see them, both at the clinics and the hospital.

“Federal support for Mackellar Care to take over the facility has already been received. We have waited long enough and a commitment needs to be made by HNHE – not just for the community, but also for the creditors who are still owed money.”

The $6.2million centre was built under the GP Super Clinic funding program from the Federal Government on State Government land, with valuable support from mining companies and fundraising by the community.

If running at full capacity, the centre has the potential to house seven full-time doctors, pathology and a number of allied health services.

“It appears that the reassignment of the lease by Hunter New England Health is where the delay is occurring. All parties are waiting on confirmation from Hunter New England Health that they will commit to reassign the lease with the same conditions that Gunnedah Rural Health were provided,” Councillor Chaffey said.

“Health care is paramount and this centre was purpose-built for our community so it needs to be back up and running to its full capacity to service our growing region.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Ashley Gardner 6740 2100.