Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC), Mayor Charlie Sheahan has received notification from the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding that the Inquiry intends to hold public hearings within the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD).
The public hearings will be held in Wagga Wagga between 18 and 22 March 2024 at the Wagga Wagga Court House in Fitzmaurice Street.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, appointed Richard Beasley SC to conduct a Special Commission of Inquiry into the funding of health services provided in NSW in August 2023. The Terms of Reference (TOR), invite consideration of several issues of relevance and application to regional and remote communities within NSW.
The hearings in Wagga Wagga will study a wide range of issues included in the TOR and focus on issues within rural and regional communities, and issues unique to the MLHD.
The letter states the Inquiry team are interested to hear from a wide range of perspectives from within the MLHD as to the delivery of healthcare services and opportunities to improve health outcomes for these communities.
Cr Sheahan said this was an opportunity for residents within our communities to make a submission to the inquiry about healthcare services in our region.
“This Inquiry will examine the existing governance and accountability structure of NSW Health. The way NSW health funds health services delivered in public hospitals and community settings and strategies available to address escalating costs, limit wastage and identify areas of improvement in financial management,” Cr Sheahan added.
Through public hearings the Inquiry will hear evidence about a range of issues, including:
- The current funding arrangements for health services in NSW
- How funding arrangements relate to quality and accessibility of healthcare
- Different models of service delivery
- The experiences of patients, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders
The Inquiry will deliver the final report to the Governor on or before 24 August 2024 and more information can be found on the Special Commission website Home – The Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding (nsw.gov.au)
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