LEETON resident Gary Emery has firsthand experience in viewing how a hospital is managed.
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Mr Emery is a past maintenance and garden employee at the Leeton District Hospital and said he had seen services downgraded over the years.
He has also experienced what it is like presenting to the emergency department with a serious health concern that couldn't be addressed on the spot as there was no doctor available at the time.
Mr Emery, like many in the community, would like to see money invested in the hospital so it can offer top-class health care to Leeton shire residents.
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"I've seen the foundation for that hospital building, it will stand for another hundred years, we need to invest in it now," Mr Emery said.
"I've spent most of my life here in Leeton and you really do want to know that if something happens with your health that you can go to the hospital and be seen by a doctor.
"That's what people want.
"What has happened at that hospital over the years is terrible.
"The staff there do a great job, they just don't have the support they need."
Having worked at the hospital, Mr Emery said he could see Leeton going further and further down the priority list when it came to having funding available to get things done.
He was hopeful by sharing his thoughts and experience, the community would band together and demand better for their hospital.
"The nurses there are busting their gut ... and we have good doctors in this town that have been excellent over the years," Mr Emery said.
"They've done fantastic work over the years, but a lot of them will be starting to think about retiring soon.
"They have done their turn, so we need to work out how we can attract more doctors, but also a way to get them to stay.
We need them to stay."
The Irrigator is continuing its campaign to advocate for a permanent doctor at the hospital by sharing the experiences of the community to help show the government more needs to be done. Share your story with talia.pattison@irrigator.com.au or call 0475 803 356.
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