I write hoping that you might publish this with the aim of ‘clearing the air’ with regards to some of the acrimony which has attended the recent ‘change of the guard’ at the Deniliquin Medical Centre, i.e. that formerly managed by Ochre Health.
I will begin by congratulating the group led by Dr Ian Carey and Ms Caitlin Morona (Rivergum Rural Health Hub) on winning the contract for the centre.
It is my intention to work in the most collegial and co-operative fashion with them.
I will add that I believe that social media posts made by one person in particular has made this process much more difficult than it needed to be.
Particularly for the current council members, who have born the brunt of much misinformation and who have shown admirable restraint.
Personally, I have not read any of these posts and I believe now this option (thankfully) has been ended.
I think the expression is “the dustbin of history”.
On another point, I remind readers that the Medical Centre is owned by the Edward River Council and by extension to the ratepayers of Deniliquin and district.
On its inception, one of the main conditions of the centre's management group was to provide adequate health services to those owners (ratepayers and other citizens).
In particular to provide services when these could not be accessed locally elsewhere.
It is my understanding that, despite its best efforts and not for want of trying, Ochre Health were unable to meet this KPI for much of its occupancy.
From this point of view, I believe that this will be a big challenge for the new managers.
I think that there should be much leeway given to the new group, especially in the early times.
Our practice commits to being as helpful as possible in this regard.
Hopefully, now, all stakeholders can get back to the core business of providing quality healthcare.
Yours etc.
Dr Robert Campbell
Deniliquin
15°C