URGENT UPDATE: Doctors at Griffith Base Hospital are rallying behind Member for Murray Helen Dalton in her critical push to split the Murray region from the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD). This proposal aims to establish a new health district exclusively for the Western Riverina, ensuring local control over healthcare services.
Dalton’s call for autonomy comes after growing concerns from constituents about healthcare accessibility. “The people of Murray deserve their own Health District,” Dalton stated emphatically. “We need to have control over our own lives, and I am heartened to see that the medical staff of Griffith Base Hospital agree.”
In a compelling open letter, Dr. Howard Fan, Chair of the Griffith Base Hospital Medical Staff Council, highlighted the necessity of local governance. He asserted that managing the hospital from Wagga Wagga often leads to unnecessary patient transfers, diminishing care quality. “Such expansion would not only improve patient outcomes and reduce travel burdens for families,” he wrote. “Local control would enable smarter, more transparent allocation of resources.”
The implications of this split are significant. Griffith Base Hospital’s medical staff believe that greater local oversight will enhance healthcare delivery, allowing funds to be directed where they are most needed. Dalton emphasized the dedication of the hospital staff, stating, “They know what needs to be done to achieve better health outcomes in our region, and it’s high time we got a health district of our own.”
The momentum behind this movement has been building since Dalton first proposed the motion on February 13, 2025. Her advocacy stems from feedback from local residents who feel underserved by the existing health district management. In response, the state parliament has scheduled a committee investigation into the proposal for late 2025.
Dalton is now urging Premier Chris Minns to fulfill a personal commitment made prior to the last election to support the creation of a new health district in the Western Riverina. With the voices of both medical professionals and constituents growing louder, the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated.
As this situation develops, all eyes will be on the parliamentary committee’s findings later this year. The residents of the Western Riverina are hopeful that their calls for change will not go unheard, as they seek to improve their healthcare outcomes through local governance.
Stay tuned for more updates on this critical health initiative that could reshape healthcare in the region.
