THE PEOPLE of Orange have earned the right to have their voices heard over the current dispute between clinicians and the Orange Health Service, according to retired cardiologist Dr Bernard Huxtable.
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“What we have to remember is this hospital rightly belongs to the people and without the amazing amount of fundraising over the years and the lobbying on behalf of specialists for improved services, we wouldn't have the hospital we have today,” Dr Huxtable said.
“We have proved in the past there is unlimited potential for the Orange hospital but expansion of services has come about by the dedication of passionate doctors and nurses and community who have fundraised tirelessly. It is their hospital.
“It isn’t the government who had delivered these wonderful services like cardiology, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and rehabilitation, it is the community who have raised money to make services happen in the 57 years I have been here.”
He said the community should be outraged over the treatment of a senior cardiologist and the cutting back of services in other departments.
Dr Huxtable said it was the people of Orange who raised the money to provide coronary equipment from 1966, the first high-tech ultrasound equipment, building of a rehabilitation unit, the Rotary Ward at Orange Base Hospital and the building of the helipad at the former hospital.
The community also funded Western Care Lodge and started the Mid West Heart Fund.
“The palliative care unit at the old hospital was also funded from a telethon at CBN Channel 8 and a community fundraising trial,” he said.
Dr Bernard Huxtable said specialists have lobbied for more staff to build up services in the city.
“That includes people like Dr Geoff Mutton who worked so hard to get more orthopaedic surgeons for Orange and paediatrician Des Mulcahy as well, they all worked tirelessly," Dr Huxtable said.
“While we have had these amazing advances there has been no corresponding increase in the experience of management and therein lies the problem.
“I hope there will be a full investigation into the operation of the hospital so everyone can move forward.”
He said he fears if issues with management and visiting specialists cannot be resolved, many will leave Orange.
