THE community rallied to show their despair over a tender for the staffing of care at the Tomaree Community Hospital, however, Hunter New England Health (HNEH) have advised that the tender is a continuance of a current arrangement.

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Concerns were that through tendering positions for services such as Emergency Department, Palliative Care, general patient care alongside the provision general practice of services in a separate building on the campus.

It currently services 28,000 residents and the influx of up to 40,000 visitors over holiday and weekend periods.

Kate Washington Member For Port Stephens told News Of The Area, “I am kranky that the community went through so much to get a hospital and that now we have to fight to keep it in public hands.”

“I believe that the tender is a way for HNEH and the NSW Government to seek to privatise the Tomaree Community Hospital by stealth.”

At a public meeting at the Hospital Kate Washington was joined by Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord who said, “The last thing we want to have is an American style health care system where your care is determined by your private health insurance and credit card.”

Michael DiRienzo, Chief Executive of HNEH told News Of The Area, “HNEH has invited tenders to renew its long-standing contract for medical services at Tomaree Community Hospital in Nelson Bay.

“This arrangement has been in place since 2009, and the contract has recently come up again for renewal.

“The tender calls for organisations to provide General Practitioner medical services at Tomaree Hospital, including: On-call General Practitioner Visiting Medical Officer (GP VMO) services at the hospital: coverage of the GP VMO roster for the Emergency Department: Medical services for inpatients at the hospital: General practice services at a GP clinic co-located on the Tomaree Hospital campus.”

“It’s important to note that this arrangement has been in place for many years and does not include the running of other services, such as nursing and allied health, administration or other support services.

“These services continue to be provided by HNEH and NSW HealthShare, both public agencies,” he said.

By Marian SAMPSON