Children in Macarthur should not be forced to travel to Westmead or Randwick for treatment or surgery, says Campbelltown MP Greg Warren.
“It’s not only a burden on those children, it’s also a burden on their parents and carers.
“Campbelltown and the wider Macarthur region are in the midst of a population boom and we need to make sure services – particular health services keep pace with that increase in population,’’ he says.
“The least the government can do is investigate establishing paediatric services and paediatric subspecialties.
“It would make an enormous difference to many children with significant illnesses or conditions, as well as their loved ones.”
Mr Warren, pictured outside Campbelltown Hospital, has introduced a notice of motion in the Parliament of NSW calling on the state government to do the right thing by local children.
The notice of motion notes children in Macarthur are forced to travel long distances for treatment and surgery due to a lack of options at Campbelltown Hospital.
It also “recognises the inquiry into the Current and Future Provision of Health Services in the South West Growth Region recommended the government ‘examine the proposal of establishing paediatric surgery and other subspecialties’ at Campbelltown Hospital;
Demands the government urgently examine the proposal.
The Upper House inquiry in 2020 recommended a proposal for paediatric surgery and subspecialties at Campbelltown Hospital be explored.
However, to date the NSW Government has remained coy regarding the issue.
It has also resisted calls by local community leaders, including the federal member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander and the former mayor, Paul Lake, for a children’s ICU in Campbelltown Hospital.
The government says the number of local children requiring ICU treatment does not warrant the cost of establishing a unit in Campbelltown.
