Minister seeks details on rehab needs

Minister for Health Ms Carmel Tebbutt has promised to seek more information about rehabilitation needs on the Peninsula, after four members of the Woy Woy Hospital Alliance met with her recently.

She also undertook to investigate the possibility of improving the bus service from Woy Woy to the rehabilitation service at Kanwal, north of Wyong, according to Anglican Rector of Woy Woy, the Reverend Penny Jones, who was one of the four.

"Carmel Tebbutt listened to our concerns and tried to suggest that best clinical practice demands that rehabilitation be co-located with an acute hospital," said Ms Jones.

However, Ms Tebbutt was unable to confirm that there were any plans for such a unit at Gosford Hospital, Ms Jones said.

"She also suggested that current facilities were being used to increase the amount of care in the community, reducing the need for rehabilitation.

"While this is a worthy aim, it does not work for everyone, which is why there is now a rehabilitation unit at Wyong Hospital, in Kanwal.

"This is much too far away for us."

Ms Jones said the Alliance members expressed their concerns about the closure of the rehabilitation unit at Woy Woy Hospital "in the strongest possible terms".

"Of course the people of Wyong and its surrounding district need this facility, but we need one here too.

"As has been pointed out many times before, the Woy Woy Peninsula now has twice the population it had when the Rehabilitation Unit was originally opened," said Ms Jones.

She said the Woy Woy rehabilitation unit had come about due to local efforts and subscription.

"As Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews has stated, at 35,000, this is the highest density of population on the Central Coast and we require better services from our hospital, not the removal of the ones we have."

Ms Jones said the Alliance also raised its concerns more briefly with the Premier Ms Kristina Kenneally, Minister for Ageing Mr Peter Primrose and Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews.

"It remains to be seen, in an election year, whether or not they will truly listen to and respond to those views."

Press release, 31 Aug 2010 Penny Jones, Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance