THE state's opposition has again weighed in on the dire need for better health services at Leeton's hospital.
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Last week representatives from Leeton, including shire mayor Paul Maytom addressed the NSW parliamentary inquiry into rural health.
Councillor Maytom made representations to the inquiry during online sessions, calling the situation at the hospital "shameful" when it came to the lack of a permanent doctor and the unused operating theatre.
Last month, The Irrigator raised these very issues with the state's opposition Minister for Health Ryan Park, who said a complete overhaul was needed of rural and regional hospitals such as the one in Leeton.
After hearing Cr Maytom's passionate plea to the inquiry to help rural areas like Leeton, Mr Park said it was crucial these cries for help were not ignored.
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"Rural health services has deteriorated under the NSW Liberal Nationals, while demand has increased," he said.
"The community obviously has a right to know why they are travelling long distances to get medical treatment while their hospital has been left vacant.
"We have tens of thousands of people sitting on a waiting list for life changing elective surgery, often for many months.
"To find out we have operating theatres right across NSW sitting unused is unacceptable."
The Leeton community has again been urged to band together and make noise on the matter to show it does care and support change at the hospital.
Mr Park said the current government needed to pay attention to towns like Leeton.
"At each hearing we are seeing undeniable evidence that there is a crisis in healthcare right across rural and regional NSW," he said.
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