STEPH COOKE CALLS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE COOTAMUNDRA DOCTOR SHORTAGE

​​Thursday, 3 October 2019​

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has called on her Federal colleagues to resolve the doctor shortage in Cootamundra township.

“While this is ultimately a Federal Government responsibility, I have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure the Cootamundra community gets adequate access to doctors at their local hospital,” Ms Cooke said.

“Everybody in this process – my Federal colleagues, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, and medical professionals – has a vital role to play.

“I have written to Michael McCormack, the Federal Member for Riverina, urging him to bring his colleagues to the table. We need the Federal Government to be more proactive on this issue.”

Ms Cooke has had meetings with Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council as well as with local doctors to see where efforts need to be focused.

“The Council and I have consulted on numerous occasions with local doctors who are doing their best under very difficult circumstances. I have also met with members of the Cootamundra community and received many letters, all of them expressing concern with the situation.

“I have written to the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, to urge him to help us address the GP shortage at Cootamundra Hospital, and I have been in constant contact with Murrumbidgee Local Health District over their recruitment drive for a locum to cover weekdays in the Emergency Department and a Nurse Practitioner to provide additional support for emergency patient presentations.

“I encourage all parties to work together for the benefit of the Cootamundra township community and I again thank the local doctors, nurses and paramedics for their dedication and professionalism.”