Armidale Regional Council (ARC) has resolved to ask Hunter New England Health (HNEH) why it is not taking responsibility for the operational costs of hydrotherapy services in Armidale, despite it contributing to the operating expenses of hydrotherapy services in other places within its remit.
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At its August ordinary meeting via webinar, Cr Margaret O'Connor moved to ask the question after reviewing the Armidale hydrotherapy pool's history timeline and finding no record of the question ever being put to Hunter New England Health by the council.
In July, Cr Ian Tiley confirmed to the Express council had handed back a $1.093 million state government grant for the project, bringing an end to a four-year saga. The Commonwealth government clawed back a $2.316 million grant dedicated to the same project earlier this year.
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"The nub of the problem is not so much the cost and the capability of ARC to get funding for the building and infrastructure, but is the ongoing operational costs," Cr O'Connor said.
"It does appear that in many cases NSW Health does fund, and fund very generously, hydrotherapy facilities in other health districts."
Cr O'Connor cited an interview with the Armidale Express in July 2017 as the only record she could find of a public question about the responsibility of the hydrotherapy service being put to Hunter New England Health. At the time, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall publically slammed the comments of the healthcare giant.
"Wendy Mulligan (who was then the HNEH general manager for the Northern Tablelands) said hydrotherapy is not a core requirement of public health services, and when asked why she said 'I can't comment on that - it's just not a part of what we do'," Cr O'Connor said.
"It's entirely in the interest of the community for us to ask this question directly of Hunter New England Health. That is the sole purpose of this motion."
The motion was seconded by Cr Robinson, who said the refusal of Hunter New England Health to take responsibility for the hydrotherapy service was an example of cost-shifting.
"We should be asking the director of Hunter New England Health and the minister for health, as well as our local member Adam Marshall why we have to put up with this cost-shifting or do without hydrotherapy," she said.
There was no opposition, and the motion was carried unanimously.
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Vanessa Arundale
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
