Nationals’ Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole, has thanked local concerned community members for joining the fight to keep the Panorama Clinic in Bathurst.
The Clinic offers intensive support for people experiencing significant mental distress.
It’s facing a potential relocation to Bloomfield Hospital in Orange during the $200 million redevelopment of Bathurst Hospital, which is due to start next year.
The concern is that if the clinic moves from Bathurst to Orange, it will not return.
Paul Toole says the potential move affects people not just in Bathurst, but in Lithgow, Oberon, Blayney, and Kandos-Rylstone.
He said the concerned community members are speaking on behalf of those who are the most vulnerable, may be in a dark place, and need the assistance of the Panorama Clinic that is easily accessible in Bathurst.
“One in three people will need mental health services in their life. By taking it away to Orange, they have said ‘people will die,’” Mr Toole said.
“Not good enough Minister or WNSWLHD Health.
“We still have the bureaucrats and the Minister for Health refusing to comment on whether or not the Panorama Clinic will be moved from Bathurst to Orange.
“The worst thing that could happen is to take this clinic to Orange and leave Bathurst and surrounding areas without somewhere for those seeking help,” Mr Toole said.
Mr Toole is urging people to contact the Minister to express their concerns.
