Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) has received further correspondence from the Chief Executive, NSW Health Pathology, Vanessa Janissen advising that arrangements are being made for NSW Health to host a roundtable meeting with representatives from NSW Health Pathology, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the medical community and Council. At the time of writing the date of the proposed roundtable meeting had not been released.
NSW Health Pathology held community information sessions on 24 February, where members of the community were allocated time slots to attend and ask questions. CGRC Mayor Abb McAlister has been in talks with NSW Health Pathology and called on the organisation to host community meetings.
“My demand for a community meeting was met, however on the terms set down by NSW Health Pathology, I’m disappointed that allocated time slots and pre vetted questions was the agenda. This roundtable meeting will give Council the opportunity to again raise our objection to the cutback of services at the Cootamundra Hospital.
My fear is the decision has already been made, they have been recruiting for drivers and pointing to other towns who have pathology services delivered at other centres. I like to urge residents to submit questions to NSW Health Pathology, via their website. We need to make it clear that the community doesn’t agree with the changes,” Councillor McAlister said.
The NSW Pathology website is updating with Frequently Asked Questions and is inviting the community to continue to submit questions via the online form at: http://pathology.health.nsw.gov.au/articles/cootamundra-community-information-sessions
