Community Meeting – Thursday 03 June 2021

For nearly 9 months the Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) and the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) have been in discussion in relation to staffing issues at the Bellinger River District Hospital.

We first flagged this issue in September 2020 in a previous post and media release …

Threat to Emergency Department hours ?

Several weeks ago Dr Andrew Heslop released details of the VMO issue to the public and the media via Facebook and various other media platforms.  A copy of his statement is attached below in case you missed it. The resulting social media storm has had the desired effect and appears to have pressured the MNCLHD into engaging more co-operatively with the VMOs.  

The MNCLHD has now agreed to flexible contracts, is meeting with local doctors who have expressed interest in working at the hospital, and is in discussion with the Agency for Clinical Innovation.  There is another VMO meeting scheduled for this Wednesday morning, and a get together with prospective VMOs on Wednesday evening, and this is all progress in the right direction.  However, this does not mean that the proposal to close the ED after hours has been withdrawn.

We encourage you to attend the community update and discussion on Thursday 03 June at 6:00pm at St. Andrew’s Church Hall in Hyde Street, Bellingen. The hall is the building fronting Hyde Street, entrance will be via the side door.

Note: we will be operating a COVID-Safe environment and will ask you to either sign-in manually, or use the QR code provided . Seating will be 2 metres apart.

If you cannot attend the meeting, and would like to be kept updated, you can either subscribe to our website, or email us at bellohospitalrescue@gmail.com

View Dr. Andrew Heslop’s statement here

Bellingen Hospital Again under Threat

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BHAG 2020 AGM & President’s Report

 

Main Car Park view 2

The 2020 AGM was held on 29th July 2020 at St Andrews Uniting Church Hall, Bellingen.

I would like to thank and extend a warm welcome to the members of the 2020/2021 Committee:

Public Officer (retained): Fenella Briscomb
President: Barbara Moore
Vice President: Pauline Murphy
Secretary: Fenella Briscomb
Treasurer: John Conway
Committee Members: Charlotte Blesing, Marlene Howes and Margaret Hooper
Consultant VMO: Doctors Derek & Olivia Bell

This past year’s ‘on ground’ activities continued to demonstrate our communities’ commitment to our local Bellingen Hospital with regular maintenance of the gardens that we have created and restored, including watering during the very hot and long dry Spring and Summer seasons.  This physical presence at our hospital reminds senior executives and staff that our community remains vigilant and committed. We will never allow them to forget what happened in late 2009 when our community was called to action and saved our very own Bellingen Hospital.

Regular maintenance, expanded services and new capital works are a common occurrence by the health network.  A representative from your BHAG Committee (Fenella Briscomb) was present at meetings with hospital staff and contractors where she was actively consulted on all areas of works especially those that may have impacted on the beautiful gardens BHAG has created and maintained over the years. The latest upgrade works included internal works to Hartley House, an expanded and redesigned car park at Hartley House including a new safe pedestrian path from the front of the building to the ramp access. Work is still in progress to improve some internal roads, main car park and safe pedestrian access to the reception & emergency entrances. With the removal of the roundabout, large vehicle access including Emergency Services will now be achievable.  It has taken 10years for the roundabout works since the community initially advised the then CE Mr Chris Crawford in 2010 of its hazard.

If a critical situation were to occur such as a loss of services or a change in the delivery of core services that one would expect at a local public hospital we would immediately act and confidently call upon our amazing community to rally to the cause.

The Minutes and President’s report of the 2020 AGM are able to be viewed by clicking on the links below.

On behalf of the incoming committee I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our amazing community for your on-going support.  Your generous donations and acknowledgment of the committee’s work encourages us to continue in what may appear to be a stable and safe situation – though we remain the ever vigilant sceptic. We continue to represent your voice at all levels of Government and at the senior level of management of the Mid North Coast Local Health District and locally at Bellingen Hospital.

Please contact us if you have any concerns about the service or stable future of our Bellingen Hospital as we are your voice – loud and clear.

Yours in ‘SOS Bellingen Hospital’

Barbara Moore (President)

BHAG 2020 AGM Presidents Report

MINUTES OF BHAG AGM 29 July 2020 – Full Document

BHAG 2019 AGM & President’s Report

The 2019 AGM was held on the 24th July 2019 at the Uniting Church Hall Bellingen.

I would like to thank and extend a warm welcome to the members of the 2019/2020 Committee:

Public Officer (retained): Fenella Briscomb
President: Barbara Moore
Vice President: Pauline Murphy
Secretary: Fenella Briscomb
Treasurer: John Conway
Committee Members: Charlotte Blesing, Marlene Howes and Margaret Hooper
Consultant VMO: Doctors Derek & Olivia Bell

This past year’s ‘on ground’ activities continued to demonstrate our communities’ commitment to our local Bellingen Hospital with regular maintenance of the gardens we have created and restored including watering during the very hot and long dry Spring and Summer seasons.  This physical presence at our hospital reminds senior executives and staff that our community remains vigilant and committed. We will never allow them to forget what happened in late 2009 when our community was called to action and saved our very own Bellingen Hospital.

Regular maintenance, expanded services and new capital works are a common occurrence by the health network including the recent survey work to redesign on-site parking, improve the safety for pedestrian access & overall improve the internal road design especially regarding large vehicle access including Emergency Services that will be achieved by removing the existing roundabout adjacent to the main car park.  Some of you may recall that the Roundabout was raised as a hazard in early 2010 however along with many other matters that the community wished to assist the then CE Mr Chris Crawford our offer of assistance fell on deaf ears.  If a critical situation were to occur such as a loss of services or a change in the delivery of core services that one would expect at a local public hospital we would immediately act and confidently call upon our amazing community to rally to the cause.

I would like to make special mention of the loss of two committed members of BHAG Inc. Early this year Shirley Dunne (Shirl the Pearl) passed away after a long illness.  Shirl was on the committee for many years & a volunteer gardener at the hospital from 2010.  In June this year David Wallin suddenly passed away.  David was a foundation member in 2009 & volunteered to create a website & build a membership data base both of which are used today even though they have been tweaked over the years.  Both members will be missed & on behalf of BHAG Inc. I would like to say thank you to them & their contribution.

The Minutes and President’s report of the 2019 AGM are able to be viewed by clicking on the links below.

On behalf of the incoming committee I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our amazing community for your on-going support.  Your generous donations and acknowledgment of the committee’s work encourages us to continue in what may appear to be a stable and safe situation – though we remain the ever vigilant sceptic. We continue to represent your voice at all levels of Government and at the senior level of management of the Mid North Coast Local Health District and locally at Bellingen Hospital.

Please contact us if you have any concerns about the service or stable future of our Bellingen Hospital as we are your voice – loud and clear.

Yours in ‘SOS Bellingen Hospital’

Barbara Moore (President)

MINUTES OF BHAG AGM 24 July 2019

BHAG 2019 AGM Presidents Report

BHAG 2019 AGM – Wednesday 24 July 2019

 

To nominate for a position on the BHAG Committee

1. Download the fillable pdf Nomination Form below.
2. Obtain written nominations from two current committee members.
3. Complete the acceptance section of the Nomination Form.
4. Forward it to the BHAG Secretary, PO Box 120, Bellingen NSW 2454
5. The form must be received by the Secretary by 19/07/19 (allow 2-3 days for local delivery)

2019 BHAG AGM Nomination Form for Office Bearer Website

If you have any questions, please use the Leave a Reply button to contact BHAG

BHAG 2018 AGM & President’s Report

Wellness Garden – Archimedean Spiral

The 2018 AGM was held on the 25th July 2018 at the Uniting Church Hall Bellingen.

I would like to thank and extend a warm welcome to the members of the 2018/2019 Committee:

Public Officer (retained): Fenella Briscomb
President: Barbara Moore
Vice President: Pauline Murphy
Secretary: Fenella Briscomb
Treasurer: John Conway
Committee Members: Charlotte Blesing, Marlene Howes and Margaret Hooper
Consultant VMO: Doctors Derek & Olivia Bell

This past year’s ‘on ground’ activities continued to demonstrate our communities’ commitment to our local Bellingen Hospital with regular maintenance of the gardens we have created and restored including watering during the very hot and long dry Spring and Summer seasons.  This physical presence at our hospital reminds senior executives and staff that our community remains vigilant and committed. We will never allow them to forget what happened in late 2009 when our community was called to action and saved our very own Bellingen Hospital.

Regular maintenance, expanded services and new capital works are a common occurrence by the health network including the recent installation of solar power (grid connected) that was funded by the NSW State Government. Many of you may recall that Martin Hogan had discussed this matter with Health in 2010 and I can report that he is absolutely delighted to hear this news. We would expect the savings will translate to more funds available for core health services however if a critical situation were to occur such as a loss of services or a change in the delivery of core services that one would expect at a local public hospital we would immediately act and confidently call upon our amazing community to rally to the cause.

The Minutes and President’s report of the 2018 AGM are able to be viewed by clicking on the links below.

On behalf of the incoming committee I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our amazing community for your on-going support.  Your generous donations and acknowledgment of the committee’s work encourages us to continue in what may appear to be a stable and safe situation – though we remain the ever vigilant sceptic. We continue to represent your voice at all levels of Government and at the senior level of management of the Mid North Coast Local Health District and locally at Bellingen Hospital.

Please contact us if you have any concerns about the service or stable future of our Bellingen Hospital as we are your voice – loud and clear.

Yours in ‘SOS Bellingen Hospital’

Barbara Moore (President)

MINUTES OF BHAG AGM 25 July 2018

2018 Presidents Report