Blue Mountains News

Member for the Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP, is joining Council in its submission to advocate for the best possible health services for the Blue Mountains community.

“Council will prepare a submission and I strongly encourage individual community members to also make their own submissions by 13 December,” Mayor Mark Greenhill said.

The Inquiry is exploring gaps in health outcomes, and health and hospital services, between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.  A key part of the submission is Council’s request that the Blue Mountains be acknowledged as a regional, non-metropolitan area, particularly the mid to upper Mountains.

Council’s submission will also highlight the need for a major upgrade of the Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital.

“Given the location of the Blue Mountains, particularly the mid to upper mountains, the maintenance and improvement of accessible health and hospital services is critical to our community,” Cr Greenhill said.

“Some of our residents are currently forced to travel long distances for treatment, to Nepean, Lithgow and Westmead hospitals, with inadequate transport links. The Inquiry needs to investigate in detail the impact of limited access to services on the Blue Mountains community, and thoroughly investigate current and future needs.”

Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said: “We need to provide quality modern hospital services, and associated services, for preventative action and early intervention. The Blue Mountains hospital at Katoomba is well located to provide a greater range of services and is also a valuable source of employment in the area.”

The Blue Mountains’ ageing population require improved services locally and better access to services further afield, while health services for younger people, including mental health, maternity and paediatric care, and youth health services, are also necessary to retain and increase younger populations.

In addition to Council’s submission, the Inquiry invites individual submissions and these will help the Inquiry to understand the issues faced by the Blue Mountains community in accessing quality health services.