People passing by often stop to observe the helicopter landing in Mudgee to take seriously ill patients to bigger facilities, but the Health Council warns that observors obstructing the helicopter’s landing or the crew’s activities could be putting patients’ lives at risk.

If drivers park in the hospital grounds or car park to watch the helicopter, it can make landing and take-off difficult and create obstacles to the crew’s work.

People standing around the helicopter pad can also put themselves in danger while making the crew’s work more difficult.

Health Council members recommended residents park in the street and stay by their cars to watch the helicopter.

Cars driving onto the hospital grounds can also cause damage to the caps on the hospital’s in-ground fire hydrants, which can create a safety risk if hydrants are then blocked by debris, rocks and grass.

The Health Council said it would be terrible to see Mudgee Hospital fenced and made inaccessible to the community, but it was important that people respected the area’s chief purpose.

The Health Council works with the hospital on behalf of the community, facilitating communication between the Greater Western Area Health Service and the hospital’s users.