"I've always said that there's no point in delivering shiny new buildings if you don't have the staff to adequately run them" – Ryan Park, June 2024.

 The NSW Liberals and Nationals have again joined with families across the Gunnedah region to demand the Minns Labor Government fully staff maternity services at Gunnedah Hospital.

After unveiling the facility in January this year, Hunter New England Local Health District confirmed to media it was not currently supporting birthing services at Gunnedah Hospital because of recruitment issues.  

Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals Kevin Anderson said the $53 million Gunnedah Hospital redevelopment was funded and planned by the former Coalition Government as a project that would secure the future of health service delivery in the Gunnedah region.

“Under Labor, the hospital has gone backwards, with Labor scaling back the redevelopment, failing to provide staff to provide maternity services and cutting other essential services like renal and chemotherapy,” Mr Anderson said. 

“It’s unacceptable that Labor has failed to recruit the obstetricians required to run our brand new birthing suite, leaving it to gather dust while mothers are forced to travel to give birth.”

Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health Sarah Mitchell said families should be able to give birth close to home no matter where they live.  

“This isn’t just a Gunnedah issue. Women across regional NSW should not have to worry about giving birth on the side of a road,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“Ryan Park needs to put his words into action. Regional families need and deserve equal access to maternity services. Expecting parents in regional and rural NSW deserve so much better.”