BAD BLOOD: Call for Hunter New England Health to address worries about proposed pathology changes

There is anger and anxiety in the Narrabri Shire community as proposed changes to Narrabri pathology services are scheduled to be introduced.

Members of the medical and wider communities are alarmed that changes to pathology services planned by Hunter New England Health Local Health District to start on July 1 could also significantly diminish the level of other services at Narrabri Hospital.

“The changes if adopted could flow on to ultimately impact a range of capabilities at Narrabri Health Services,” Narrabri Shire mayor Darrell Tiemens said, echoing concern from across the community.

“The changes would introduce a massive downgrade of what we have now.

“Narrabri Hospital could be in danger of ultimately being reduced to a drive-through service.”

Narrabri Chamber of Commerce president Russell Stewart said clarification was urgently needed from Hunter New England Health.

“And a statement from HNEH that staff will be offered positions ‘regionally’ needs to be made clear,” he said.

“I have been told by people familiar with the issue it means the staff will be offered jobs in Moree and Narrabri will have just one pathology staff member.”

A quickly convened protest meeting of concerned residents at Narrabri hospital on Saturday drew people from across the community spectrum including Narrabri Shire Council, hospital staff, the Chamber of Commerce, Narrabri Hospital Auxiliary, the Rural Fire Service, Narrabri Industrial Network, Rotaract and Rotary clubs, childcare and the general farming community.

Speakers claimed that the shire community had been ‘kept in the dark’ about the proposed changes.

“We are just hearing about it now,” several said.

The details of the new Narrabri pathology structure will apparently be officially revealed to medical staff on Wednesday, speakers at the protest meeting said.

“We have an excellent, busy pathology department at Narrabri – there were 21,369 presentations at pathology in 2023, close to Moree’s 21,856,” one speaker revealed.

The proposed changes, involving replacement of the current pathology provider, came to public light through a recent letter to the editor published in The Courier.

The letter’s author, whose identity was verified by this publication, claimed that the proposed changes would result in diminished service within the hospital laboratory and the author alleged after-hours services would be cut as part of the proposal.

“The proposal will have a very negative effect on the service which is already provided,” the author said.

Since the initial letter’s publication, concerns have been voiced about the repercussions on broader health services provided by Narrabri Hospital through further letters in The Courier as well as on social media.

Narrabri Shire Council and independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler both advised that Hunter New England Health initially did not disclosed details about the proposed changes despite requests for information.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the council said it is seeking urgent clarification and action from Hunter New England Health and the NSW Minister for Health.

Delegates to a scheduled joint meeting of Narrabri and Wee Waa Local Lands Councils on Saturday expressed their strong opposition to proposed changes to pathology services at Narrabri Hospital. A visit by the mayor to the meeting in Narrabri was an opportunity for the two bodies to discuss the issue and express their concerns. Narrabri shire mayor Darrell Tiemens, left, with lands council delegates Helen Wenner, Naomi Nean, Samantha Hamilton, Robyn Keeffe, Coral Toomey, Clifford Toomey, Jackie Jones, Merle Hurley, Marilyn Binge, Bronwyn Noble (obscured), Edward Trindall, Robyn Green and Lynn Trindall.

“I know I speak for the entire community when I say that we are strongly opposed to any downgrading of health services in our shire,” said mayor Darrell Tiemens.

“Narrabri Hospital is the cornerstone of health services in our shire, and any alterations to its services demand clear explanation and community consultation”.

At the time of publishing the statement, council said it had received no response from Hunter New England Health regarding the proposed changes.

Cr Tiemens called for immediate intervention to address the pressing concerns.

“This is an important issue of equitable access to health services, and Hunter New England Health must clarify the future of our hospital,” Cr Tiemens said “There needs to be a safeguarding of jobs and no ratcheting down of services.

“There is white hot anger out there and we need to know that our health services will be improved, not downgraded.”
State Member for Barwon Roy

Butler echoed similar concerns and said he had sought information from Hunter New England Local Health District without much success.

Mr Butler advised he was due to have a scheduled meeting with Minister for Health Ryan Park yesterday “to try to get to the bottom of what is happening with health services in Narrabri and why it takes a health district so long to communicate with its customers about what it is doing”.

“This is not good enough. If a community is to be impacted by changes in their medical services, they need to be informed and consulted at every step of the process,” Mr Butler said in a statement on Friday.

“So far there has been inadequate consultation with staff and no consultation with the community about what changes are to take place, which has generated more rumours, which they have as yet failed to dispel.

“Many are concerned that this will mean a decrease of vital pathology services in Narrabri, and any reduction in services is something that neither I, nor the community, will tolerate.”

The mayor has urged the community to attend tonight’s public meeting at Narrabri RSL Club at 5.30pm.