The Member for Wagga Wagga Dr. Joe McGirr MP met with our committee last Thursday 15th August at Tumut Golf Club to discuss. 

1.The recommended outcomes of the recent Health Summit held in Tumut.

2.The recommendations of the State Coroner for the Naomi Williams inquest.

3.Our petition for 2 full-time doctors at the hospital.

Firstly, Dr. Paul Mara and the Rural Doctors Network are promoting the regional university and hospital based training concept to attract recruits for Rural Generalist Doctors scheme, however we feel this is more a long term solution and does not address the current crisis.  

The State Coroners 9 recommendations are helpful in addressing poor health outcomes that appear to be racially, socioeconomic or misinterpreted needs for emergency department care. 

The question of Nurse led ED or Nurse Practitioners as recommended by MLHD and the Coroner was considered to be simply the 'Status Quo' and unsuitable for a District Hospital which must have Staff Doctors.

Dr Joe concedes that the current 'Visiting Medical Officer' model ie. The Tumut Hospital using 'on-call' local doctors is outdated as private medical centres are understaffed and their doctors are often unavailable. 

He agrees  the hospital should have 'Staff Doctors' and will be recommending a change to the Tumut Hospital staffing practices to the NSW Minister Brad Hazzard this week.