About 30 people attended the forum held at Quality Resort Horizons to hear what the opposition policy on health involved following the failure of Health One project last year.

The opposition spokesperson for Aging and Disabilities Andrew Constance, opposition spokesperson for Emergency Services Melinda Pavey and Queanbeyan MLC Matthew Mason-Cox were also in attendance.

“In 2007 the Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, promised to build a Health One facility in Jindabyne. More than two years later and $100,000 dollars on consultancy fees he has failed to deliver on this promise.

The community is now fighting for a Multi Purpose Service (MPS) where health services could be operated from.

Bruce Hodges from Jindabyne spoke of being “frustrated to the ultimate” in being part of the advisory committee that has repeatedly “advised”, suggested and begged for improved public health services in the busy mountain area - with no outcome. Mr Hodges told the forum that he had been a committee member for 10 years and the only concrete improvement that he had witnessed was the installation of electric doors into Cooma Hospital.

Dr Cath Newman and practice nurse Danni Matson from Nugget’s Crossing Family Practice both spoke of the dire need for public health services locally. There was also overwhelming support in the crowd for the excellent job that Dr Newman and her staff, as well as the local ambulance service, provides.

It was agreed at the forum that a 24-hour emergency service clinic that can deal with basic health needs is what is needed. Many towns smaller than Jindabyne already have a similar Multi Purpose Service (MPS).

Discussion also centred on the opinion that Jindabyne has always been considered to be a “satellite” of Cooma for these services. Transport problems and a rapidly growing population in the Jindabyne area would suggest that its health needs are independent of those in Cooma