VETERAN Eurobodalla councillor and Moruya Cancer Carers president Rob Pollock has dismissed talk of a merger between Batemans Bay and Moruya Hospitals as “pie in the sky”.
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During a recent visit to Batemans Bay, Australian Medical Association NSW President Professor Brian Owler said the Eurobodalla would be best served if the two hospitals merged.
However Cr Pollock, who has been a councillor for 26 years, said it was “not going to happen in the foreseeable future”.
“In principle, I absolutely support the idea of one regional hospital, but you have to look at reality and see that the community gets substantial service from both the current locations,” he said.
“You also have a major extension to Moruya Hospital for the new sub-acute ward which will possibly house a relocated oncology ward and other associated services.”
Cr Pollock believes that the upcoming $170 million Bega Hospital makes the merger even less likely.
“The chance of them building another hospital 120km up the road is highly unlikely,” he said.
“We need to recognise that both hospitals serve two separate communities and a combined Eurobodalla hospital is a pie in the sky.”
Cr Pollock believes that Batemans Bay would be unsuitable for such a development.
“Batemans Bay is so constrained by its topography,” he said.
