Concerns surrounding the $558 million upgrade of Albury Hospital have intensified following a memo issued by health service executives. The Border Medical Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the communication from Albury Wodonga Health Chief Executive Bill Appleby and Chair Jonathan Green, which aimed to clarify the status of the redevelopment project.
In their memo, Appleby and Green indicated that senior clinicians were collaborating with bureaucrats from New South Wales and Victoria to revise the development plans in 2024. This follows input provided by medical professionals during the planning stages in 2022. Despite this, the medical community remains concerned that earlier recommendations from a 2021 clinical services plan, which advocated for a completely new hospital, are not being adequately addressed.
Deputy Secretary of the Border Medical Association, Phil Steele, articulated these concerns, stating that the memo fails to alleviate any apprehensions. He noted, “The simple reply is that the content of the email does nothing to allay the concerns that have been raised.” Steele emphasized that the situation contradicts previous critiques made by Appleby and Green to health ministers concerning budget cuts affecting the hospital upgrade, which have reportedly worsened since 2023.
In a letter to Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and her NSW counterpart Ryan Park, Appleby and Green expressed alarm over the declining scope of the project since its announcement by the premiers in 2022. This correspondence was made public through a parliamentary order initiated by Greens MP Amanda Cohn, revealing further issues that the medical association finds troubling.
Steele pointed out that draft documents indicate a plan for Albury Wodonga Health to engage in “service planning” in 2026 to secure further investment, highlighting the inadequacy of the current projections to meet community needs. He remarked, “Clearly, there is recognition that the revised forecasts, made to fit a budget and not the needs of the community, are insufficient.” He also mentioned that the anticipated increase in hospital beds would not be substantial.
Local officials have voiced similar concerns. Albury Mayor Kevin Mack stated on July 25, 2024, that senior clinicians at the hospital felt silenced by executive leadership. “I’ve spoken to several senior clinicians that have been muzzled by the executive and told ‘if you want to work here, you don’t speak any more about what’s happening here,’” Mack said. He added that while Appleby and Green needed to align publicly with government officials, there is a pressing need for a more effective development plan.
Mack criticized the current plans, likening them to having a “shiny new car” without a functioning engine. He noted that the community has been misled into believing they will receive a top-tier hospital, which may only operate at half capacity upon opening.
In a separate statement, Sophie Price, the Mayor of Indigo, expressed her concerns regarding Appleby’s remarks to Health Infrastructure NSW. She took issue with his approach of labeling legitimate clinical concerns as “myths” rather than addressing them directly. Price stated, “Rather than addressing these legitimate clinical concerns, the response has been to dismiss them as ‘myths’, requiring a public relations counter-offensive.”
As tensions between the medical community and health service executives continue to rise, the future of Albury Hospital’s upgrade remains uncertain, with significant implications for local healthcare provision.
