LOCAL DOCTORS BACK HELEN DALTON MP’S PLANS FOR NEW WESTERN RIVERINA HEALTH DISTRICT

Doctors and other medical staff from Griffith Base Hospital have written an open letter in support of Helen Dalton’s push to create a new health district called the Western Riverina Health District. 

This new district would see the Griffith Base Hospital no longer controlled by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District which is effectively run out of Wagga. 

“The people of Murray deserve their own Health District,” Helen said. “We need to have control over our own lives, and I am heartened to see that the Medical Staff of the Griffith Base Hospital agree.” 

The open letter is written and signed by Griffith Base Hospital Medical Staff Council Chair, Dr. Howard Fan. 

In the letter Dr. Fan says the establishment of the Western Riverina Health District will help address the failures of the Murrumbidgee Health District. 

Dr. Fan says the current system has created a “lack of local autonomy, inadequate resourcing and missed opportunities to develop and expand services tailored to the Griffith community.” 

“This really is a case of doctor knows best,” Helen said. “The Medical Staff at the Griffith Base Hospital are dedicated to the well-being of patients and their families.” 

“They know what needs to be done to achieve better health outcomes in our region, and it’s high time we got a health district of our own.” 

Ms. Dalton has called on Premier Chris Minns to honour his personal commitment to her, which he made before the last election, to create a new health district in the Western Riverina.  

“The seat of Murray is the same size as Scotland. We need, and deserve, our own health district,” Helen said.  

“We can’t continue to allow ourselves to be run by people who live hundreds of kilometers away, and who simply don’t understand our health needs.”