A crucial step in a much needed redevelopment of Urana hospital has taken place.
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A draft clinical services plan has been completed by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District with key features being provision of four additional acute care beds, an increase to 24 aged care beds from the present 19, an expanded emergency area and upgraded staff accommodation.
The existing hospital was built in the 1970s, added to in the 1980s and was the first of the multi-purpose health service model built in NSW.
Important next steps will be carrying out detailed design work followed by securing NSW government funding with member for Albury Justin Clancy already briefed on the plans.
Pat Bourke and Adrian Butler, Urana residents and Federation Council mayor and general manager respectively, are part of the Urana local health advisory committee which has completed a submission in support of the clinical services plan.
"This hospital is running in the black and services a big rural area," Cr Bourke said.
"We're so lucky we've got an amazing doctor (Veerendra Giri Yaramati), who has helped create a really efficient hospital and a really caring environment.
"But it is in need of a redevelopment and having a plan in place to do that is a great first step."
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The increase in aged care accommodation, in particular inclusion of dementia and palliative care, taking pressure off acute care, has been welcomed.
Retention of staff accommodation also assists in overcoming a shortage of rental properties in Urana.
But local stakeholders will fight to overcome the absence of x-ray imaging services in the plan.
The closest radiologist presently is at Lockhart.
Dr Yaramati has expanded his practice to include the soon to be opened Oaklands clinic which will see the addition of an additional GP.
In addition to Urana and surrounds, Dr Yaramati has patients from Narrandera, Rennie, Savernake Balldale, Daysdale, Coreen and near Howlong.
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