Balmain Hospital Casualty Changes
CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE 24HR CASUALTY SERVICES AT BALMAIN HOSPITAL
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Community Update - December 2009
Complete the Survey
Balmain Hospital - Survey of Residents December 2009 (411.69kB)
The Leichhardt community has united together
to oppose the cuts to
Balmain
Hospital
Casualty
Services that has seen the 24 hour casualty
service wound back to
8am
to
10pm
.
Council representatives, key local organisations and residents were called into a meeting with the Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS) on Monday 27 April 2009 to discuss supposed enhancements to the services at Balmain Hospital. SSWAHS proceeded to tell those present that they were 'expanding' the service and that the service would be open 7 days, 8am to 10pm. Going from a 24 hour service to a 8am to 10pm service doesn’t sound like an expansion of services!
Since then, Leichhardt Council has sought a meeting with the NSW Minister for Health; to discuss these changes but have not received a response. Council has also sought support from the Member for Balmain, Verity Firth MP for this important campaign.
Council has held two public meeting including a public meeting that was held in front of Balmain Hospital. Over 150 people heard many passionate and expert speakers explain the need to retain the 24 hour casualty service, some telling their story of how the Hospital had been there to provide casualty services and treatment in the middle of the night.
As per the resolution adopted by the public meetings, a Citizens Committee has been established to guide the community campaign to restore the 24 hour casualty service. This Committee met on Friday 23 October to discuss the campaign and to develop strategies to overturn the decision. Council and the Committee are now in the process of reviewing current and future local health needs and encouraging the Member for Balmain and Minister for Health to overturn this decision as soon as possible.
If you would like to participate in the Citizens Committee or have any queries regarding the campaign, please contact Council's Media & Public Affairs Officer on (02) 9367 9351.
Cr Jamie Parker
Mayor of Leichhardt
What you can do ........
Below are the contacts for the key people in NSW Parliament who can act to change the decision to cut the hours of operation at Balmain Hospital:
Petition to NSW Government Oppsosing cutbacks to Casualty Services
Balmain Hospital - Petition to NSW Government (5.30kB)
Documents relating to the Community Campaign to restore 24hr Casualty Services at Balmain Hospital
Letter to Sydney South West Area Health Service 16 July 2009
SSWAHS - Letter Response to Mayoral Minute April 2009 (483.46kB)
Letter to Residents for Public Meeting held 08 July 2009
Balmain Hospital - Letter to Residents for Public Meeting 15 july 2009 (321.25kB)
Mayoral Minute adopted by Council 23 June 2009
Mayoral minute - Report from Public Meeting 23-06-2009 (12.72kB)
Resolution adopted by the Public Meeting 4 June 2009
Balmain Hospital - Resolution from Public Meeting 4 June 2009 (7.42kB)
Mayoral Minute Adopted by Council 28 April 2009
Mayoral Minute - Balmain Hospital Casualty Hours Announcement 28-04-2009 (8.96kB)
