In a shock announcement, the Moulamein Local Health Advisory Committee resigned en masse at its AGM on Tuesday, October 31. 

The committee said their positions were untenable after the nearly three years of broken promises, failure to take action and a lack of community support and engagement by Murrumbidgee Local Health District. 

The meeting was chaired by Moulamein LHAC Vice Chair, Colleen Wilson.

“Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) have four key priorities, which are holistic health and wellbeing, lifting health outcomes, locally led reform and workforce at its best,” said Colleen.

“The Moulamein LHAC feel over the last three years that these priorities have not been committed to the community.

“The Moulamein Community Health Centre is the only access for the district to any form of health care. We do not have a GP, ambulance or pharmacist.

“I have been continually disheartened by MLHD and the management of our community health centre.

“The lack of duty of care shown to our community members has been inexcusable over the past 3+ years. Laura was our only saving grace at the beginning of this year, opening our clinic regularly two days per week. She is a competent, caring and well-liked RN for our community. And now, Laura is no longer part of our community health system locally.”

Colleen’s family, like many others, has been at the coal face as their family has been turned away for basic medical care and forced to travel the 140km round trip to Swan Hill. 

“My mother literally won’t walk into one of the consulting rooms in there because of the treatment she received.”

Colleen’s elderly mother, who had been battling bowel cancer, had attended the clinic to have a wound dressed after a skin cancer removal from her leg. 

“She (the nurse) wouldn’t do the dressing, sent the dressing home with Dad and telling my mother this is a $100 dressing, and so she left in tears.”

Colleen’s parents, like many, were also forced to travel to Swan Hill to receive simple vitamin injections as staff at the facility weren’t able to perform them. 

Longstanding Moulamein LHAC Committee member, Fran Gorey, was another who had previously resigned due to the ongoing problems.

“We’ve had ongoing client reports about not being able to access services and centre closures.

“These have all been documented over a number of years to Murrumbidgee Health. Despite their reassurance and promises that this will happen, we are still at this point.”

The committee had persevered and saw a glimmer of hope in the situation changing. 

In August last year, The Bridge interviewed MLHD Director of Integrated Care and Allied Health Emma Field on the problems and the lack of pathology. 

Despite reassurance that “pathology is available for now”, in reality, pathology wasn’t available until January of 2024. Then, the recommencement was plagued with stops and starts and delays. 

Just this week, the Brian Holden Eye Clinic attended the Moulamein Community Health Centre. Despite such a great service being on hand, no patients had registered. The former LHAC committee stating it wasn’t advertised and they weren’t even notified they were coming. 

“The community’s completely lost confidence and we recently had a nurse unit manager (Laura), who was wonderful. She came in and restored confidence and now she has gone. That was really sad. She was the one who was instilling the confidence and getting the people back,” said Fran.

The recent attempt to replace the RN removed has also not gone well.  

“As a government employee in the education department, I am absolutely disgusted and embarrassed by the recent debacle in the recruitment process for an RN at our Community Health Centre,” said Colleen. 

“We have since forwarded our concerns for the Ombudsman to investigate. 

“As a committee of volunteers, some of us are full time working mothers, the time taken up being on this committee has been exhausting and we are indeed NOT the voice of our community.

“I am mentally fatigued by the time I have devoted to LHAC. I have continually put my kids and husband second as we met as a committee on weekends and after hours to battle to keep our facility functioning!

“I am embarrassed communicating to community members trying to answer their questions.

“Has anyone employed by MLHD had to meet on weekends and after hours to ensure the continuity of a community’s only health facility or had to face local community members when they are shopping? I think not.”

The facility will continue to operate and a recent renovation will make it easier for both the nursing staff and clients. A new examination table, funded by the Health Committee for the Child and Family Health service, has also been installed.

It is essential that community members book appointments as this provides information (‘data’) on how often the health centre and services are being used.  

According to MLHD, this ‘data’ will in turn help determine the demand for the service. Therefore, availability and regularity of services are determined by demand. 

The outgoing committee is asking residents to support and use our local health service so it remains viable and accessible into the future. 

If residents have any concerns or issues about the service, or problems accessing appointments, they can contact any Health Committee member, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the Health Care Complaints Commission or the local member, the Hon Helen Dalton.

The [Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper] reached out to MLHD for comment; a response was not possible before deadline.

Anyone wishing to have an appointment, is advised to call the Community Care Intake Service CCIS (1800 654 324) or the Health Centre (5887 5012).

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 2 November 2023.