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Country residents stand up!
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Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Last night more than 600 people attended a packed Yorketown Hall to call on the Government to scrap its Country Health Care Plan which would see their valuable local hospital downgraded to a GP centre.

Shadow Minister for Health Vickie Chapman and local MP Steven Griffiths heard passionate stories from a community, which like all country towns with a hospital, needs its current facilities retained.

“The meeting was a tremendous show of support for country hospitals in this State” Ms Chapman said.

“People living in the country deserve to know exactly what this Government plans to do, they have grave questions about the plan and are making themselves heard at town meetings across the State.

“Last night their questions weren’t answered by the lackey sent along by the Health Department.

“If Minister Hill was serious about country health he would be getting out there and speaking to the people his cost cutting measures will affect – not sending along someone without answers to town meetings.

“It is insulting that people living at the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula were told they could attend the Whyalla Hospital!

“Unless swimming lessons are part of the Government’s new retrieval service funding that suggestion isn’t just ill informed, it is dangerous.

“Community and professional consultation involved with this plan has been a sham and the Minister’s claim he is still consulting is a joke.

“The Rural Doctors Association sent Minister Hill a list of questions and requested he answer them – not only did he drag his feet responding, he didn’t even provide appropriate answers!

“The SA Liberals have made a commitment to country health care and will not close or change the services provided in country hospitals unless the community ask for that to occur.

“I have already received nearly 4,000 signatures on petitions calling on the Government to scrap this irresponsible plan.

“People living in country SA deserve better than the Country Health Plan, they have a right to be listened to and they need their hospitals.

Town meetings and rallies already held:

• Adelaide – 1000 people
• Cummins – 400 people
• Yorketown – 600 people
• Kapunda – 400 people
• Kingscote

Town meetings and rallies to be held in coming weeks:

• Peterborough – Thurs 26 June
• Balaklava – Thurs 3 July
• Maitland – Tues 8 July
• Strathalbyn – date TBA
• Bordertown – Wed 2 July

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