Mr Marshall will meet with Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Michael DiRienzo on December 16 and will ask for a change in management structure

Many locals and Mr Marshall were left fuming after Mr DiRienzo claimed there was a doctor “available” over the November weekend.

“On the weekend beginning Friday 25 November a doctor was available at Glen Innes Hospital,” Mr DiRienzo said.

“A local GP, who has admitting rights to the Hospital and regularly participates in the Emergency Department roster, was available to cover the emergency department all weekend.”

“I was gobsmacked by Mr DiRienzo’s statement that a doctor was available, “ Mr Marshall said.

“I call into question Hunter New England Health’s sincerity and I suggest that they are treating the community as fools.”

Mr Marshall said he will be taking the communities strong concerns about how the hospital is being run to the meeting with Mr DiRienzo.

“Not only will I be taking to him the communities strong concerns about the recent situation but I will be putting forward my desire to see a change in the management structure,” he said.

“I will also be asking for a change to the way they staff the Glen Innes hospital.

“Clearly the status quo can not be allowed to continue.”

Mr Marshall said he will bring options to the meeting and is not interested in dwelling on the past.

“I want to move forward, I have been ringing around and doing research and I will bring positive solutions to the meeting,” he said.

“I spent some time at Moree and listened to their staff about how they do things and local GP’s who are more than happy to work at the hospital on a roster basis to ensure that we are not reliant on locum doctors because that is not viable long term.

“The locum method is costly and unreliable and it is not good enough at all.”