Cr Kennedy was responding to call from Mudgee Hospital Auxiliary patron and long-time donor to the hospital, Hugh Bateman,  for the community to get behind a push for a new hospital.

Mr Bateman said issue of a new hospital needed to be “put on the agenda”. 

The configuration of the existing three-storey hospital, built in the 1950s, was “antiquated”, with modern hospitals now built over just one floor, he said.

Mr Bateman said the design of the hospital meant the emergency department was on one floor, the theatre on a second and the wards on a third.

If the hospital’s only lift were to break down, staff would have to transport patients up and down stairs, he said. 

Mr Bateman said changes were needed to improve the comfort and safety of patients and meet workplace health and safety requirements. 

The location of Community Health in two separate buildings also created difficulties and added to costs, he said. 

Mr Bateman said considering the projected population growth of the region, there was a dire need for a new hospital in the region.

He pointed out that in recent years, new hospitals had been built at Orange, Parkes and Gulgong, the Forbes Hospital had been refurbished and the Dubbo Hospital is being redeveloped. 

“We have got to get this [a new hospital] on the agenda,’ he told councillors.   “We need to ensure that the community get on board.

“I do implore councillors to get behind this and lobby for government funding as soon as we can.” 

Mr Bateman said he had received support for his call from Mudgee, Rylstone, Kandos and Gulgong. 

Cr Kennedy said council had held two or three meetings with the State Government regarding the Mudgee Hospital and had been well received.

He said council’s economic development officer had undertaken a case study on the hospital in conjunction with the help of NSW Health.