Narrabri Shire Mayor Darrell Tiemens, together with Save the Wee Waa Hospital Committee members and Wee Waa community representatives officially presented the Save the Wee Waa Hospital petition to Member for Barwon Roy Butler today.
Following a strong community campaign, the petition has collected 12,000 signatures, above the required 10,000 signatures to trigger a debate in NSW Parliament.
Cr Tiemens thanked the Save Wee Waa Hospital committee members as well as the Wee Waa community for their tireless efforts.
“The Save Wee Waa Hospital committee has been absolutely unwavering in their dedication and determination regarding this issue,” he said.
“I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Wee Waa community for their incredible support throughout this campaign.
“Achieving beyond the required number of signatures is testament to the wonderful Wee Waa community, a town of around 2,000 people, who have persevered in gathering these signatures.
“We have also seen fantastic support across the entire Shire, throughout our region and even across New South Wales,” Mayor Tiemens added.
Cr Tiemens also thanked NSW Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park, Member for Barwon Roy Butler and Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.
“It has been great to receive support from our State and Federal Members, and I also appreciate the Minister making himself available to talk to myself
and the Save the Wee Waa Hospital Committee members when we were in Sydney last month.
“We also appreciate the recent announcement by the Minister for Regional Health and Member for Barwon Roy Butler regarding an independent review into the Wee Waa health services.”
The independent review, which is due to get underway this month, will focus on the current and former service models, and make recommendations to ensure residents
can access safe, sustainable services now and in the future.
The review will consider the health needs of the local community, workforce recruitment and retention, decisions around services and models of care.
The review is expected to deliver a report to Government in mid-2025. Mayor Tiemens also thanked Tamworth Regional Council and the City of Sydney for their support
in helping enable the Save the Wee Waa Hospital campaign to collect signatures, including during this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Save Wee Waa Hospital petition asks the Legislative Assembly to:
- Direct Hunter New England Health to urgently provide Wee Waa Hospital access to an onsite doctor.
- Restore the 24-hour operation of Wee Waa Hospital, including emergency services, inpatient beds (general medicine, rehabilitation, respite, and palliative care), outpatient services, and primary and community health care services.
- Require monthly reporting from HNELHD to the Minister for Health, the Member for Barwon, and the Mayor of Narrabri until full 24/7 operation and onsite doctor access are restored.
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