The official opening of long-awaited health facilities at Dubbo Base Hospital has degenerated into a fiasco.
The New South Wales health minister, Reba Meagher, was due in Dubbo on Monday to preside over the unveiling of the Betty Orth Memorial Unit for Diabetes/Dialysis, an expanded oncology facility and a new after hours GP clinic.
But few locals were aware of the big event due to a delay in issuing invitations.
Chairman of the Dubbo Base Hospital Diabetes/Dialysis Working Party, retired hospital executive Brian Semmler, was spitting chips over what he termed a breach of protocol and feared important community fundraising appeal contributors would not be present due to lack of notice.
Now the whole event has been cancelled because the minister is not coming to Dubbo.
The ministerial fiasco has also involved the local ambulance service. Ms Meagher was due to officially open the new Windsor Parade ambulance station at 1.30pm on Monday.
The official opening was scheduled, cancelled and re-scheduled a number of times over the past few days.
Yesterday afternoon ambulance staff were told the opening was definitely going ahead and if the minister was unable to attend then a representative would perform the official duties on her behalf.
An hour later the opening was again cancelled, leaving staff totally confused.
The minister’s office issued a media statement re-scheduling the ambulance and hospital openings to a date to be determined in January.
The statement did not apologise for inconvenience or confusion but did acknowledge the short notice given to issue formal invitations for the Dubbo events.
The statement said invitations would be re-issued in the future “allowing invitees adequate notice to respond”.
Mr Semmler said Minister Meagher’s “comings and goings” had degenerated into a sad joke.
“It is very disappointing,’’ he said.
“This person is supposed to be running our health service. I have no confidence in her ability to handle health or any other portfolio.
“This improper behaviour is a sad reflection and indictment of the way the NSW Government operates.’’
Mr Semmler has still not received an official invitation to Monday’s now-cancelled event and found out via the grapevine yesterday that he was listed as one of the speakers.
“It’s just not good enough,’’ he said.
“I don’t blame Greater Western Area Health Service. The fault lies entirely with the minister.’’
The diabetes/dialysis working party was established in March 2000 and faced a number of hurdles, including the Government reneging on a deal over dollar-for-dollar funding.
“When that hurdle was finally resolved we faced dramas over the size and location of the building,’’ Mr Semmler said.
“We’ve been down a long road but the important thing is Dubbo now has a wonderful, much-needed facility.’’
A spokesman for the Greater Western Area Health Service said confirmation of the minister’s visit was only received late last week. Invitations for the official opening of facilities at Dubbo Base Hospital were posted on Monday.
Late yesterday afternoon a number of telephone calls were made advising of the cancellation. The calls were news to some invitees who were unaware of the minister’s visit because they had not received an invitation.
heather.crosby@rura lpress.com
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