Goulburn's unhealthy state

But he’s convinced that’s what’s needed.

“We need a brand new one, not one that’s patched up,” he told the Post.

“I’ve been a visiting medical officer at Goulburn Base for 35 years and I’ve seen it patched up so many times it’s a bit like the house that Jack built.”

The popular local GP describes this as a general feeling among the medical fraternity, especially given the growing population.

Hospital doctors are having to discharge patients earlier and he argues there’s not enough space to look after them long-term.

The same is happening on the psychiatric front, Dr Renton argues. Quite simply, it is a “disaster,”

“Kenmore (Hospital) should never have been sold,” he said.

“Thirty-five years ago it had 1000 patients. It’s been run down and now there are about sixty. We have the Chisholm Ross Centre (for shorter stays) but if there are no beds it becomes a revolving door syndrome. We will have people out on the streets.”

Dr Renton made the comments ahead of Friday night’s health forum, hosted by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association at the Goulburn Soldiers Club.

Dr Renton was among some 200 people at the forum to hear next year’s state election candidates for Goulburn share their vision for health. It was also a chance to grill them on local issues.

A new or upgraded hospital and nurse to patient ratios were top billing.

Labor candidate Ursula Stephens said everyone knew the facility was “obsolete, not fit for purpose and inefficient.” Even a Clinical Services Plan had found the buildings were “outdated and unsuited to the delivery of patient care.”

“You have to wonder why we are the only regional community in NSW that has not yet had a significant health upgrade,” she said.

“I know why – because even though this issue has been debated up hill and down dale locally, there has never been a submission to the Federal Government for infrastructure investment in our hospital under the Commonwealth Health and Hospital Fund.”

Dr Stephens maintained this reflected “lazy representation by local members taking the community for granted.” Furthermore, “blackmailing” voters into supporting the sale of public assets to fund a hospital “wasn’t going to work.”

The Post revealed on Friday that the state government has not allocated any funds for a new or upgraded Goulburn facility from its promised ‘poles and wires’ sell off after the next election.

Dr Stephens told the crowd she had a plan: to ask Council to identify land for an integrated health precinct in the looming planning review. This could be at the Police Academy, Mulwaree High School or the old Supertex site. It would have to be staged and involve wide consultation on its make-up.

But she opposed public private partnerships, saying it would lead to a “two-tiered system” where patients paid and companies’ profits subsidised.

IF Goulburn MP Pru Goward was disappointed by the ‘poles and wires’ oversight, she wasn’t saying.

She told the Post she’d push the government to make a new or improved Base Hospital an election commitment. Funds could come from the annual health infrastructure allocation.

Ms Goward said the city would be more likely to achieve a $100 million upgrade on the current site rather than a $200m rebuild on a Greenfield property.

While the MP did not believe the community would warm to private investment, she argued companies like Ramsay Health had proved it could work.

Ms Goward acknowledged the need for a new facility. This was why the state had committed $600,000 towards planning.

“And I’m very proud to say that between us in the past two years, the state and federal governments have invested more than $21m in health facilities in Goulburn,” she said.

This included $10.4m for a subacute care rehabilitation wing, $500,000 for emergency department upgrade, $3.5m to enhance the operating theatre and $4.85m to extend bed capacity at the Chisholm Ross Centre.

Ms Goward said the hospital was performing well despite the challenges of an ageing population. She cited improved waiting times, patient experience and a 15pc increase in nursing staff since 2011 as examples.

She told the crowd that Goulburn had been at the top of the list for a hospital rebuild in the 16 years of Labor’s rule but the government wasn’t interested. It had taken her four years to again make it a priority.

Outdoor Recreation Party candidate Wal Ashton, who is building a health hub at Bradfordville, opposed an upgrade at the existing site.

“Changing old buildings is a nightmare,” he said.

“Money should only be spent there on the basis it can be written off in five years.”

Mr Ashton argued the city should not be a “net exporter of health but a seller of health” to Sydney and the region. Private investment was key.

Christian Democrats Party candidate Adrian Van Der Byl focused on the importance of keeping people out of hospital.

The Greens Iain Fyfe called for improved nurse to patient ratios, for an upgraded hospital to be kept in public hands, and better health outcomes through improved urban planning and integration with local government.

“You have to question a government’s longer-term commitment to maintaining a hospital when it ties a one-off windfall to its construction or upgrade,” he said.

More coverage Wednesday’s Goulburn Post.