Amalgamation led to rehab closure, says action group

The amalgamation of Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Services has led to the closure of Woy Woy Hospital's Rehabilitation Unit, according to Save Woy Woy Hospital Rehabilitation action committee coordinator Mr Bob Mudge.

"Money has been drained out of the Central Coast to support Northern Sydney," he said.

"The only reason we can see that the unit is being closed and the Central Coast losing 30 rehab beds is that North Sydney Central Coast Health is broke," Mr Mudge said.

Mr Mudge said the action committee has vowed its commitment to keep the issue of the rehabilitation unit closure alive despite the unit's confirmed closure on December 2.

"We have more support now than we did a couple of months ago as both residents and ex-patients find out that it has closed."

Mr Mudge said the action group would continue to pressure state government representatives and ask for the community's ongoing support.

Shadow Minister for Health Ms Jillian Skinner accused the Health Minister and State Labor Government of closing the Woy Woy rehabilitation unit despite an internal report recommending bed numbers be increased.

"Closing the Woy Woy rehabilitation ward is Labor's latest attack on frontline hospital services and indicates Labor is going to eventually close the hospital," Ms Skinner said.

"Only an incompetent State Labor Government would close a rehabilitation ward in an area whose population is rapidly ageing.

"This decision makes absolutely no sense.

"Woy Woy rehabilitation patients, who are already in need of treatment for their frailty, will now be carted in buses to Gosford, eating into valuable treatment time.

"Even the State Government's own report states: 'The amount of time spent travelling [is] impacting on actual therapy activity'."

According to a final report by Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service on a review of rehabilitation and related services released in May last year, there exists "a significant shortfall in designated rehabilitation beds (and staffing) on the Central Coast".

"While there is a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine on the Central Coast, the service there is not resourced to meet current or future need, and as such service development is impacted," the report stated.

"The current 15-bed rehabilitation ward at Woy Woy Hospital should be expanded to 30 beds.

"Expansion of the Woy Woy rehabilitation ward from 15 to 30 beds should be accompanied by the recruitment of an additional rehabilitation physician and a FTE registrar (advanced trainee in rehabilitation medicine)."

Mr Mudge said the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health's Clinical Services Strategic Plan and the internal report issued in May last year contradicted the closure of the Woy Woy unit.

"It is not just the 2008 clinical services strategic plan which contradicts the closure of the unit, but the leaked internal report of May 2007, which recommend 30 beds at Woy Woy and 30 beds at Wyong," Mr Mudge said.

"All of these issues - the aging population, the need for these services close to where people live and the need to improve outcomes for patients - are both in the report of May 2007 and the strategic plan for 2008."

Mr Mudge said the removal of the word "hospital" from its title was "a sure sign" that the hospital would be downgraded and eventually closed.

Mr Della Bosca told State Parliament on November 26, that the Woy Woy Hospital would continue to provide quality health care services, despite "scaremongering" from Member for Terrigal Mr Chris Hartcher and his colleague Gosford councillor Jeff Strickson.

"Woy Woy Hospital is not closing.

"In fact, the area health service has recently established a new 20-bed transitional care unit at the hospital providing important sub-acute rehabilitation services," Mr Della Bosca said.

"This new unit has been established to provide relevant care to patients following a hospital admission.

"It allows older patients to recover properly with personalised health care programs and one-on-one support.

"Transitional care is exactly that - specialised care provided to people following an illness or injury in the transition from hospital to home or aged care facility.

"In addition to the unit, Woy Woy Hospital provides outpatients facilities and a hydrotherapy pool serving the needs of the people of the Woy Woy area.

"The care and support that outpatients are currently receiving at Woy Woy Hospital will remain.

"Patients such as those with Multiple Sclerosis will continue to access community based occupational therapy, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy at Woy Woy Hospital."

Mr Della Bosca said a recent community meeting held on November 19, hosted by Mr Hartcher was "misleading and a cheap political stunt".

"Both Mr Hartcher and Mr Strickson have been using the most vulnerable of our community to score a cheap political point," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The area health service has been holding their own community information sessions to provide the community accurate information.

"I would encourage anyone who may have concerns about the new or existing services to contact the area health service for the correct advice."

Press release, 26 Nov 2008 John Della Bosca, Minister for Health Press release, 25 Nov 2008 Jillian Skinner, Shadow Minister for Health Clare Graham, 5 Dec 2008 Interviewee: Bob Mudge, Save Woy Woy Rehabilitation Action Committee