MEMBER for Lismore Janelle Saffin says she was shocked at the news of changes to Murwillumbah Hospital services delivered to staff this week by Northern NSWLHD management.
On Tuesday afternoon hospital staff and unions were informed that there would be no inpatient surgical services provided at Murwillumbah from 17 May, as they would be moved to Tweed.
Ms Saffin said the news was badly delivered.
“This came as a body blow to staff, with only 9 weeks notice of the changes, and shows a lack of leadership of the Northern NSW LHD.
“Change is hard at the best of times and we have not had the best of times, and it was brutally delivered to staff and no consultation with the community at all.”
“Community come first with me and I shall stand up for them no matter what”.
“What needs to happen now is a stay put on any action and a community and staff process of respectful and proper consultation so that locals get the best services and staff are treated with the respect they deserve.”
“Any changes to come as a result of the Tweed Hospital opening cannot be at the expense of the Murwillumbah Community.
“They must be in line with what was communicated to staff and the public by the former Chief Executive Wayne Jones in August 2022.
“Staff were told in 2022 that the vast majority of existing services at Murwillumbah Hospital would remain in place, including inpatient wards, with only some surgical services and acute inpatient services moved to Tweed.
“The HSU says staff and unions were ambushed by the news on Tuesday afternoon.
“It is not on and I shall stand with our frontline health staff to ensure that the promises given are honoured.
