On Friday, the NSW government handed over $1million to the hospital for floor coverings, painting and window coverings. 

Member for Bega Andrew Constance visited the hospital for the announcement, saying the funding had come from the Minister’s Discretionary Budget. 

“This is a great start,” he said.

“Pambula plays an important role in the overall heath system in the shire, supporting the South East Regional Hospital. We always said we wanted to keep it open and that’s what we are doing.

“There’s no politics in this.

“For us we gave a commitment and it’s an important commitment.” 

Community Health refurbishment funds to the amount of $1.6million are currently being used as “Stage 1 refurbishments” at the hospital to undertake urgent repairs.

Three years ago the NSW government said it would give $5million for Stage 2 refurbishment, with the $1million announced on Friday forming part of this allocation.  

Nurse manager at Pambula Hospital Kelly Jurd said staff at the hospital were “so happy” to be receiving the $1million on top of the $1.6million already allocated. 

“It’s just going to breathe some life into an ageing building in the places we want it to,” she said. 

She said it was great to watch the current redevelopment works taking place in the building. 

Mr Constance commended Save Our Hospital Inc president Sharon Tapscott and Southern NSW Health board member Russell Fitzpatrick for their work supporting the hospital over the years and said it was more affordable to have built SERH in the region than send hospital patients to Canberra for treatment. 

“The more we can do for them down here the better off everyone is,” Ms Tapscott said. 

“I think South East Regional [Hospital] would have felt the burden if we hadn’t kept it.

“The rest of the shire is behind it, while the southern end has been trying to have it as a functioning hospital.” 

It was estimated the furnishing works funded by the $1million would start in a couple of months.