Community welcomes extension of hospital hours, but fight for doctor and 24/7 service continues

AFTER a hard-fought campaign, community members have welcomed the extension of opening hours at the Wee Waa Health Service but say the fight for an on-site doctor and the restoration of 24/7 operation is far from over.

“It’s very positive progress going forward, and we need to encourage our community to use the facilities,” said Wee Waa Hospital Auxiliary president Anne Weekes.

“We are really pleased; it’s nearly two years since the Save Our Wee Waa Hospital group started,” said Carmel Schwager, SOWWH member.

“We should be like any other small town, like Bingara, Boggabri, Walgett; we should have a hospital that’s open 24/7, with an emergency department and access to a VMO (visiting medical officer), a doctor, so this is a step towards that … hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later.”

A media statement from Health Minister Ryan Park said the expanded operating hours follow the recruitment of additional nurses.

From 5 October, the health service will operate from 7 am to 10 pm, seven days a week.

The statement said the extension of hours was ‘an important milestone in implementing the recommendations of the independent review into Wee Waa Health Service, which focused on models of care, workforce recruitment and retention, community engagement, integrated care and partnerships, and Aboriginal health’.

“Communities like Wee Waa deserve access to quality healthcare close to home, and these extended operating hours are an important step in delivering the recommendations of the independent review,” said Mr Park.

Narrabri Shire mayor Darrell Tiemens described the announcement of extended opening hours as “a significant step in the right direction for the Wee Waa community and surrounding areas”.

“It’s a very, very positive step forward, but it still means that not a single patient will be staying overnight at the hospital,” said Cr Tiemens, who is also part of the SOWWH group.

“There still won’t be a doctor there, but we believe that Hunter New England Health, and we believe the commitment of Ryan Park, the health minister, we believe their commitment to getting this hospital running 24/7 with a doctor and a functioning emergency department is exactly what they’re going to stick to.

“But we’re just tired of waiting. It’s taken well over three and a bit years since they said it was a temporary closure.

“I don’t know about you, but three years is not temporary. Three years is a big, long wait for this important community.

“It’s moving at glacial pace and we’d like them to speed it up a bit.”

After more than three years of the facility closing at 5.30 pm every night, Cr Tiemens said the announcement was an important improvement that will make it easier for residents to access healthcare locally, particularly outside traditional business hours.

People have to travel 42km from Wee Waa to Narrabri, or beyond, to seek after-hours medical care.

SOWWH has highlighted how reduced operating hours at the hospital have caused significant hardship, especially for elderly residents, palliative care patients and those requiring emergency care.

Limited or no public transport options have further exacerbated access issues for residents having to travel to Narrabri for care.

Wee Waa Hospital serves the town, which has three primary schools, two high schools and an aged care residence, but it also serves surrounding farming communities and villages, including those with their own primary schools such as Pilliga and Burren Junction.

Cr Tiemens said the extension of opening hours has only been possible because the Wee Waa community has continued to stand up and make its voice heard.

Speaking about the reaction he’s received since the announcement, Cr Tiemens said: “I’ve had a lot of text messages from people going, ‘This is fantastic, isn’t the community awesome’.

“And I agree; this is all about the community.

“If it wasn’t for the people of Wee Waa and surrounds, this hospital would be closed.”

In 2023, Hunter New England Local Health District announced that services at Wee Waa Health Service would be temporarily reduced (8am to 5.30pm), citing significant healthcare workforce shortages.

Fed up and frustrated, hundreds of local residents took time off work and away from their daily lives to attend a series of community rallies and meetings, with the first Save Our Wee Waa Hospital public meeting held at the end of 2024 – the year the powerhouse SOWWH committee was formed by a diverse mix of local volunteers determined to rescue the district’s vital health service.

In March 2025, Cr Tiemens, SOWWH members and local representatives presented a Save the Wee Waa Hospital petition to Member for Barwon Roy Butler.

Following a strong community campaign, the petition collected 12,000 signatures, above the required 10,000 signatures to trigger a debate in NSW Parliament about the matter.

“More than 12,000 people signed the petition calling for the restoration of services, and the campaign received support from right across NSW,” said Cr Tiemens.

“I want to thank Roy Butler MP for his ongoing advocacy for Wee Waa, as well as Tracey McCosker from Hunter New England Health.

“And thank you to the Hon. Ryan Park, Minister for Health, for standing alongside our community and championing this important issue at the highest levels of government.

“I also want to recognise the Save Our Wee Waa Hospital committee, our local community groups and organisations and the many residents who have continued to advocate, attend meetings, share their stories, and refuse to let this issue disappear.