WINDALE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
Mr FACE (Charlestown) [5.38]: The matter I wish to raise for a second time in this House concerns the Windale Community Health Centre. In the past few days I received information that a pilot scheme involving the centre and family and community services is proposed. I apologise to the Minister for Health Services Management for not informing him of my intention to raise this matter today. Originally I had intended to raise another matter. Be that as it may, I ask the Minister for Health Services Management to inform me what is proposed and whether the information I have is correct. This particular health centre at Windale has been the subject of considerable correspondence between me and the Director of the Hunter Area Health Service, Dr Tim Smyth, who is trying to relocate a doctor who has a small surgery at the centre at present. It mystifies me why the area health service would want such a small area. The doctor - Dr Ruba - has nowhere else to go. Officers from the Hunter Area Health Service have said to me that Dr Ruba could establish a practice in the Macquarie Fair shopping centre at Mount Hutton. Though Mount Hutton is a neighbouring suburb, without the use of a car it would be difficult for his elderly patients to attend his practice. Dr Ruba established his practice at Windale 17 years ago at a time when no one else wanted to go there.
The regional director has not bothered to see me personally about this matter. He has written letters and telephoned my secretary about getting rid of Dr Ruba but he will not tell me or the community why he wants the centre. I am not knocking the proposed pilot scheme to combine family, community and health services. It may well be an advantage to the community. I am not throwing cold water on the idea but as the elected member I should be informed of what is going on. For a period of years people have been waltzing in and out telling the department that they have problems. The only problem they have is that they live in an old Department of Housing area that today would never have been designed or built. I have represented these people for a long time; I have had dealings with them for more than 30 years. They have a right to know what is going on. In the last election they were informed of the possible sale of some of their homes for redevelopment. Today they do not know when or if the development is to take place.
If there is going to be a pilot scheme, I ask the Minister to advise me what form it will take, whether FACS is to be associated with it, whether it will improve the present health services, and whether the doctor will be provided alternative accommodation. If the doctor has to set up a practice at Macquarie Fair, people without their own transport will have to walk to his surgery. There are no other public buildings at Windale than the police youth club, the bowling club, the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. It is a Department of Housing area. The department's properties have been sold to private enterprise. The doctor's patients are mostly aged and infirm. In 1949 to 1950 the majority of the people who moved into the area were in their twenties and thirties. Now the average age of residents is 60 years plus. All I ask is for someone to consult with me so that I can inform the community what is likely to eventuate. I wish to make clear that I am not throwing cold water on the project. If a pilot project is to take place, I should be told about it so I can inform the community.
Mr YABSLEY (Vaucluse - Minister for State Development and Minister for Tourism) [5.43]: I will ensure that the honourable member's concerns are relayed to the Minister for Health Services Management.
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