A decision on whether to replace Mulllumbimby Hospital’s overnight doctor with a video link to Tweed Hospital will go ahead today despite routine asbestos work in the ceiling of the emergency unit which has forced its temporary relocation.
Echonetdaily reported yesterday that the decision would be delayed but Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) chief executive Chris Crawford said that what has been delayed is a planned public open day to show how the trial would work.
He reaffirmed the decision is expected to be made as part of the LHD’s board meeting today.
The LHD told Echonetdaily in a release last Friday that: ‘Part of the remediation works required the Emergency Department to be relocated to another area of the Hospital. Currently, the asbestos is being contained in the ED ceiling. Therefore, the Telehealth trial is on hold until the ED has been restored to its permanent location, which will occur sometime in December.’
The story also said Echonetdaily found out about the asbestos work only after inquiring about the trial, but the LHD sent Echonetdaily a press release announcing the closure and its reasons on October 26, which went unreported, and was unknown to the writer.
