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Split from MLHD

Splitting MLHD for a Healthier Western Riverina

For too long, the healthcare needs of our communities have been overlooked by a centralised, out-of-touch bureaucracy. The current Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) is failing residents of the Western Riverina. I am fighting to establish a new, locally-focused health district to ensure our communities get the services and attention they deserve.

What is the Proposal?

The proposal is to formally split the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and create the new, independent Western Riverina Health District (WRHD).

This new health district would be managed locally and be responsible for healthcare services in towns including:

  • Balranald

  • Barham

  • Berrigan

  • Deniliquin

  • Finley

  • Griffith

  • Hay

  • Hillston

  • Jerilderie

  • Lake Cargelligo

  • Leeton

  • Moulamein

  • Tocumwal

The core principle is simple: bring healthcare decisions closer to home. A local health focus will save local lives.

Why is This Split Necessary?

The current system is broken. A one-size-fits-all approach managed from Wagga Wagga has led to poor outcomes, broken promises, and unnecessary hardship for our residents.

  • Centralised Mismanagement: Critical healthcare decisions are being made by bureaucrats with little to no local knowledge of our unique needs. This has resulted in inefficient budget allocation and a failure to address the specific health challenges our communities face.

  • Failure to Recruit & Retain Staff: The MLHD has a poor track record of staffing our hospitals. For example, two orthopaedic surgeons were promised for Griffith in 2021. Four years later, we still have none. A locally-run district will be better positioned to attract and retain the skilled professionals we desperately need.

  • Unnecessary Patient Travel: The current system forces too many patients to travel to the already busy Wagga Wagga Base Hospital for care that could and should be provided locally. This places an immense financial and emotional burden on patients and their families. MLHD's claim that a split would increase travel is false scaremongering; our plan would significantly decrease travel distances for residents of WRHD towns by a combined total of 1181km.

The Solution: Benefits of a Local Health District

Creating the Western Riverina Health District is not just an administrative change; it's a vital step toward a better future for our region's health.

  • Enhanced Local Services: With local control and a locally managed budget, we can upgrade our facilities. This includes plans to enhance Griffith Base Hospital with services like 24/7 emergency orthopaedic surgery and improved mental health support.

  • Care Closer to Home: By improving local services, we will significantly reduce the need for patients to be transferred to Wagga Wagga. This ensures residents can receive appropriate, timely care in their own communities, surrounded by their support networks.

  • Accountability and Better Outcomes: A local health board and management team are directly accountable to the community they serve. This focus ensures that funding is spent where it's needed most, leading to better overall health outcomes for everyone in the Western Riverina.

The Path Forward

I have officially called for this split in the NSW Parliament and will be meeting urgently with the NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, to push for this essential change.

It's time for a healthcare system that understands and serves the people of the Western Riverina. I will continue to fight to make the Western Riverina Health District a reality.