27.11.08 First Maternity - Now Paediatrics - Closed at Pambula [pdf]
The Rural Doctors Association of NSW (RDA NSW) is urging all residents across the Bega Valley Shire to consider whether the NSW Government's decision to halve the number of maternity units in the Shire—and to shut down paediatric services at Pambula Hospital—will result in safer outcomes for the region's mothers, babies and children.

Its call comes as the NSW Government, through the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS), has further reduced much-needed services at Pambula Hospital by stipulating that children under 16 years of age must no longer be cared for as inpatients at the Hospital.

"In a media release issued on Friday, GSAHS's Dr Joe McGirr said the location of birthing services at one site in the Bega Valley Shire would provide the safest and most sustainable maternity service for the future” said RDA NSW President, Dr Les Woollard.

"To close down the Pambula Hospital maternity unit virtually overnight—particularly when it will be at least four years before the new hospital at Bega is built, if indeed it ever is—is far from best practice and far from being the safest option for mothers and babies in Bega Valley Shire.

25.11.08  TMF cover - VMO Essential reading [pdf]
RDA NSW are advised to read this recent correspondence from the NSW health dept about TMF contracts

In summary from 1/1/209 it is ESSENTIAL that all VMOs have a signed service contract ( only approved version must be word for word as per the contract on this site)

Extensions or any other form of contract will invalidate TMF indemnity cover

20.11.08  Doctors offer olive branch on Pambula Hospital crisis

The Rural Doctors Association of NSW (RDA NSW) says two local doctors who withdrew their emergency and inpatient services from Pambula Hospital in protest at the closure of the Hospital's maternity unit and the Hospital's general downgrading will return to these duties if the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) agrees to enter into meaningful negotiations to reinstate the maternity unit and other key services at the hospital.

RDA NSW has secured an agreement from two local GP obstetricians, Dr Rob Morton and Dr Frank Simonson, that they will suspend their resignations for three months if the GSAHS is prepared to enter into high level negotiations in good faith on restoring all services at Pambula Hospital. FULL ARTICLE

14.11.08 Crowd spills out the door at public meeting to protest downgrade of Pambula Hospital

Residents from across the south east of New South Wales came out in force last night to protest the closure of Pambula Hospital's maternity unit and demand the restoration of services at the hospital.

Over 800 people spilled out of the doors of the Pambula Town Hall and into the streets to hear speakers call for the return of maternity and other life saving services, including emergency theatre and the care of children at Pambula hospital.

Rural Doctors Association of NSW Secretary Dr Paul Mara said residents made their views loud and clear and it is now imperative the Health Minister John Della Bosca and the Greater Southern Area Health Service urgently reinstate the maternity unit and restore the downgraded hospital services. [FULL ARTICLE]