Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, has been presented with a 12,000-signature petition that calls for increased funding for Manning Base Hospital.
The petition, from the Manning Great Lakes Community Health Action Group, calls upon the Labor state government for increased funding to have stages two and three of the hospital's redevelopment to be completed in their entirety, within the life of this current Parliament.
In response to receiving the petition, Mrs Thompson said, "Our Action Group advocates so hard for health in our community, and I am proud to accept this petition on their behalf."
"We must ensure that the Manning Base Hospital redevelopments are finished without further delay. It is so important that the hospital is equipped to serve our constituents effectively," Mrs Thompson said.
Mrs Thompson said while The Nationals in government allocated $100 million for stage 2 of the Manning Base Hospital Redevelopment in 2020, delays in the project starting have led to escalated construction costs.
"The original redevelopment plans can no longer be completed within the confines of the original funding."
Mrs Thompson has already requested more funding from the Labor Government in this year's budget for Stage 2 and Stage 3 redevelopments.
More than 20 people attended the handover of the petition, including five representatives of the Action Group and 15 local supporters.
The Manning Great Lakes Community Health Action Group has stressed the urgency of its plea, highlighting the strain on healthcare professionals and the community due to chronic under-resourcing of the hospital.
"It is absolutely vital that this hospital, built in 1954, is brought up to the standard of a modern, efficient disburser of public health for the 100 000 people dependent upon its services," a spokesman said.
"These signatures represent 13% of the total population and 18% of the voting population of this area."
The Action Group spokesman said the message was loud and clear.
"The community is angry and bitterly disappointed about the poor standard of health care that is able to be delivered in our area because it is so chronically under-resourced, both physically and financially.
"Our wonderful doctors, nurses, allied staff, and paramedics are being placed under enormous, unbelievable, and unnecessary stress. They are over-worked, exhausted, and disheartened.
"Manning Base Hospital and this area remain in a crisis situation. Action is urgently required to rectify the lack of funding, building infrastructure, beds, theatres, staff, and specialists," said the Action Group.
Mrs Thompson will formally table the petition by presenting it to the Clerk, and a date will then be scheduled for debating the petition.
Mrs Thompson will lead that debate, ensuring the voices of the Action Group and the Myall Lakes are heard.
