Goulburn Base Hospital redevelopment still in urgent need of diagnostic medical equipment

Goulburn is fortunate enough to be gaining a much-needed hospital redevelopment, but locals say they still need medical equipment like an MRI machine for acute care that they don’t need to travel for.

With no MRI machine in Goulburn, local resident Aaron Casey was forced to take a four-hour round trip to Western Sydney to get a scan on his swollen knee to check for tendon damage.

He is just one voice in the chorus of locals who are sick of having to travel for specialist appointments.

While residents have welcomed the $165 million redevelopment of Goulburn Base Hospital, they say the community could still benefit from further medical equipment for acute care that they don’t need to travel for.

“Goulburn definitely needs some more up to date equipment,” Mr Casey said.

Goulburn local, Aaron Casey with his youngest child, spoke of his hardships of gaining acute care in the region.

“In my case the doctor wanted me to get an MRI due to the swelling of the knee in an injury, to check for tendon damage which she said a CT and ultrasound wouldn't be able to get data or evidence for.

“I was able to get a scan that day in Revesby which was lucky but it meant a last minute Sydney trip, and my partner getting off work and pulling kids out of school and daycare as it would be about 7pm by the time we got back.

“Understandably, it all comes down to costs, availability and workload, but there is definitely the market to have more staff and more machines available in a close area.”

An MRI machine is most effective for high level diagnosis of diseases, early detection of tumours and other abnormalities in areas such as the breast, prostate, spinal cord and brain, and staging tests for various cancers.

Goulburn Base is the only hospital that doesn’t have one in the Southern NSW Local Health District.

While the hospital has a room for an MRI machine as part of its redevelopment - expected to be completed at the end of the year - the actual funding or purchase of the machine was not included in the initiative.

So that patients don’t need to pay out of pocket medical bills for having a scan, Goulburn is awaiting the Commonwealth Government to approve an MRI licence, which is granted at the discretion of government or on the basis of an election commitment.

Once that is approved, the hospital is expected to gain the service.

Anna Wurth-Crawford, retired nurse and President of Goulburn District Unions.

President of Goulburn District Unions and retired nurse, Anna Wurth-Crawford, said getting an MRI machine for the hospital is a “no-brainer” and a “necessity.”

“With people having to travel to Bowral, Canberra or Sydney, getting an MRI machine here is very much worthwhile,’ Ms Wurth-Crawford said.

“These days petrol prices are going up which also doesn’t help.”

She also mentioned the struggle for more senior residents, which Goulburn has a large population of.

“Especially with older people, it’s harder for them to travel for medical appointments,” Ms Wurth-Crawford said.

“Additionally train and bus services are not as frequent here and therefore not as reliable.”

Mr Casey also spoke of his elderly mother’s experience with having to travel for appointments.

“My mother had a fall last year, breaking her shoulder and arm socket, and pretty much all the scans involved travelling,” Mr Casey said.

“— and if they didn’t, it wasn’t something you could get in for very quickly.

“When you have broken ribs, shoulder and arm socket, a few hours’ trip isn't ideal for a scan.”

In a few months, locals can expect a government report from an inquiry into the ‘health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW’.

NSW Shadow Minister Health, Ryan Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Shadow Health and Mental Health Minister, Ryan Park, who helped push out the inquiry, said “the travel that is available is not enough, and we’re certainly calling on the government to review this.”

“We know that not every hospital in rural and regional NSW can provide every single service that’s needed by a community,” Mr Park said.

“But we do need to make sure that we have services that meet many of the community’s demands in places where they don’t have to drive huge distances or are forced to stay overnight for services that are probably taken for granted in metropolitan areas.”

The new emergency entrance at Goulburn Base Hospital as part of the $165 million development. Picture: Magnus Argen Photography

As part of his 2020 submission to the inquiry, he stressed the need for hospital funding in regional areas and the repercussions for the community if their needs are not met.

“The health and hospital system across the state is under enormous pressure with the waiting list for surgery blowing out to over 100,000,” Mr Park said.

“In regional NSW, hospitals such as Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Lismore, and the Tweed, all had at least ten per cent of patients waiting a year or more for surgery.

“There are too many tragic stories of families losing their loved ones because they were failed by a system that is underfunded and understaffed.”

A spokesperson on behalf of the Regional Health Minister, Bronnie Taylor, has been contacted for comment.

“In the 2021-22 State Budget, the NSW Government announced an additional $15 million in funding to enhance clinical services which will be delivered as part of the Goulburn Hospital and Health Service redevelopment.”

“Space and provision has been made for an MRI within the Clinical Services Building and a procurement process is now underway.”

“The NSW Government has approached the Commonwealth to issue a licence, and we eagerly await a prompt response so the people of Goulburn and surrounds receive the support and services they need.”

The Southern Local NSW Health District was also contacted for comment.