Hospital group plans next meeting

The Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance will hold its next public meeting at St Luke's Anglican Church Hall in Woy Woy on August 1.

Group publicity officer Mr Keith Farrell said the group was expecting another solid turnout.

"Our last meeting on July 11, saw around 26 people get together to discuss the the present situation of the hospital and the future plans for the group," Mr Farrell said.

"Our next meeting will see us discuss some official items including setting up a post office box for the group and designing an official letterhead.

"We are serious in our cause to save the hospital and in taking these measures we hope to accomplish this."

Mr Farrell said the committee was also looking forward to its meeting with Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service media representative Mr Terry Hayes and other members of the local health service.

"We have been promised a meeting with Terry Hayes sometime next week and hope to bring up a number of issues of concern," Mr Farrell said.

"Our first response from the health service at a meeting was, 'I don't know why you would want to do that when the rehab ward is a done deal'.

"But we want to ensure that any further changes that are made at Woy Woy Hospital is done through community consultation this time and not in silence like last time."

Mr Farrell said the group would be asking the health service confirmation on any future plans for the local hospital, including the possibility of it becoming a medical centre.

He said the group's petition to save the hospital was reaching close to 5000 signatures.

"I strongly urge all those interested in keeping the Woy Woy Public Hospital as a strong and vital resource for the Peninsula and surrounding areas to come to the public meeting to further discuss the issue - what we done and what we want to continue doing about the issue."

The meeting will take place from 2pm at the church on on Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy.

For more information, contact Keith Farrell on 4341 7864 or keith@gosfordchess.com.

Clare Graham, 23 Jul 2009 Interviewee: Keith Farrell, Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance