Cr Tapscott wants council to write a letter to Minister for Health Brad Hazzard  and Bega MP Andrew Constance, supporting the Pambula  District Hospital Community Engagement Committee in their bid to secure promised funding for the upgrade of Pambula District Hospital.

The hospital was promised three rounds of funding each to the value of $5 million.

“This was agreed to by the Local Health District (LHD) and the recommendations of the Pambula Health Service Community Engagement Committee (PHCEC) were accepted. This happened in the early part of 2015,” Cr Tapscott said.

“The funds have still not been allocated and the community in the southern part of the shire are feeling frustrated as it is widely accepted that the refurbishment would enable a better level of service, especially in the urgent care department and palliative care.

“A nurse practitioner, with an enhanced skills set, would  then have the ability to run a better level of service for the urgent care department as they can suture wounds and write prescriptions, negating the need for many to travel to the SERH and reducing the strain on resources at the SERH,” Cr Tapscott, who has been a passionate supporter of Pambula Hospital, said.

“The funding for the refurbishment and the engagement of a nurse practitioner are of paramount importance to the well-being of the southern part of the shire, the functioning of SERH, the tourist industry, and supports other major projects council are seeking to advance,” Cr Tapscott said.