The document is focussed on supporting Albury Wodonga Regional Local Government Health Alliance and on services in Corowa and Urana.
General manager, Adrian Butler impressed on council’s support for GP services and medical centres and said Urana Medical Centre was “so far overdue an upgrade”.
He said $15,000 had been approved towards the design phase.
Cr Pat Bourke said the situation in Urana was getting worse.
“The doctor has been operating out of his house for months now,” Cr Bourke said.
“They are in drastic need of funding just to enlarge the offices they are working out of.
“It’s critical; we’ve got professional people like that, but he has to walk next door and work out of a bedroom, or whatever he can.”
In July 2021, a clinical services plan produced by Murrumbidgee Local Health District proposed that the facility is redeveloped.
It noted that the current building was still functional but no longer met modern requirements, including staff and patient safety, aged care management, and emergency areas.
The plan included additional acute rooms, an increase in aged care accommodation, including dementia and palliative care to take pressure off acute care.
It also outlined the need for a separate treatment room in the emergency department and more staff accommodation with a shortage of rentals available in town.
Cr Bourke told this week’s meeting that Urana was the first Multipurpose Service built in NSW, but that it had not been touched since.
“We don’t have the means to service the professional people who are working there,” he said.
Cr David Harrison noted the importance of the updated Health Position Statement and said he was proud that health action and advocacy in Urana, Oaklands and Corowa had been a feature of Federation Council since it was formed.
He particularly noted Mr Butler’s contribution over many years.
“I can’t think of another example where council, the business chamber, major stakeholders, even health professionals have come together to produce a document like this and give us a position going forward,” Cr Harrison said.
“This document was not a bureaucratic process; it came from 500 people marching down Sanger St.
“It came from our own local medicos breaking out and taking the microphone; it came from a rally on the steps of Parliament House; it came from petitions and unanimous council support.
“We can’t just put this document away; we still have a way to go and that includes fighting for our local health services and the Shire; it’s an ongoing battle.”
Mr Butler thanked Chamber of Commerce executive officer John Crothers and Corowa Local Health Advisory Group for their work lobbying for improvements.
18°C