Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Walkers swear to continue Katoomba Hospital fight




by Michael Cleggett BMG

Mountains residents fed up with the decline in basic services at Katoomba Hospital turned out in force over the weekend for a 53km walk to express their anger.

In a rare show of cross-party unity, walkers were joined by Member for Blue Mountains Phil Koperberg and NSW opposition health spokesperson Jillian Skinner at Leura, who both vowed to fight for the hospital’s reclassification as rural.

A spokeswoman for walk organiser Hospital Equity and Access Lobby (HEAL), deputy mayor Janet Mays, said the joint commitment was a “major victory for the community”.

“Rural reclassification enables the paying of higher entitlements to clinicians,” said Clr Mays. “This would be a great step forward in our ability to attract doctors to our community” she said.

Walkers received encouragement from passing motorists who honked their support as the group endured the weekend’s warm conditions.

“Throughout the route people stopped to ask us questions and to lend their support to our cause,” said Clr Mays.

Read more: http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/news/local/news/general/walkers-swear-to-continue-katoomba-hospital-fight/1693757.aspx

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