Mr Della Bosca yesterday told Ten News an “in-principle agreement” had been reached with Catholic Healthcare to secure the future of the cash-strapped rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care facility.

But he didn’t make any mention of the Rees Government honouring a previous commitment to provide $18.6 million for urgent redevelopment work. Mr Della Bosca said “some capital issues” were “yet to be resolved” but agreement had been reached with Catholic Healthcare “around the continuation of Lourdes as a rehabilitation provider for Dubbo Base Hospital and public health in Dubbo for 20 years’’.

“The next part of the equation is to make sure we’ve got a capital agreement to make sure that Lourdes Hospital is upgraded to a standard that the clinicians would require and we are very close to an understanding there,” Mr Della Bosca said.

After receiving a tip-off from the Daily Liberal, Mr Ferguson paid special attention to last night’s Network Ten broadcast.

“There were plenty of words and it all sounded good but unfortunately we’ve heard it all before,’’ the community stalwart said.

“Catholic Healthcare reached in- principle agreement with the health department at the beginning of the year when former health minister Reba Meagher announced the $18.6 million funding package for Lourdes during a visit to Dubbo.

Just a few months later the Government took the money away and when the community protested we were told to wait until the November 11 mini-budget.

Sadly Lourdes didn’t rate a mention and we’re still waiting for the Government to do the right thing.’’

Mr Ferguson has fingers crossed that an announcement is imminent following a teleconference meeting yesterday between Catholic Healthcare, NSW Health and Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS.

GWAHS media staff were preparing a draft statement yesterday and expect ministerial approval for its release on Monday.