THE POST, Thursday, May 29, 2025 - Page 1
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ESTABLISHED 1891 Thursday, May 29, 2025
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New SES facility to be built Page 14
PARKES FROM ABOVE Story, more photos pages 8 and 9
Some very lucky locals were given a rare opportunity to hop aboard a 1942 historic aircraft and soak up the view of Parkes from above. Here we are looking east at the town with the new Newell Highway bypass and service centre at the bottom of the image.
Stolen ute destroyed by fire Page 7
Maternity unit still a no go SIX years on Parkes is still no closer to seeing its maternity unit reopened. Its closure in June 2019 continues to frustrate the community, families and Parkes Shire Council, who have been tirelessly lobbying government to reinstate the service ever since. Because of a lack of obstetricians, Parkes mums have been forced to travel elsewhere to give birth - to Forbes, but only if they’re low risk, and to Orange and Dubbo. Parkes was promised a midwife-
ry-led birthing model would take its place at the hospital, with NSW Health going as far as declaring they would start accepting birthing mums from, initially August 2020, then it was moved to March 2021. No model was ever introduced. In a message issued to the public last month, Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott asked if it was time for Parkes Hospital to standalone. “We are constantly reassured that Parkes maternity reinstatement is high on the agenda of NSW
Health, however after years and years, we do not seem to be any closer,” he said. “When the Parkes and Forbes hospitals were being built, core services were to be retained and some services shared, such as chemotherapy and dialysis. “Unfortunately what has transpired is a deterioration of services in Parkes. “We now see maternity and pathology for example moved entirely to Forbes. That is not sharing, that is consolidating services to
the detriment of Parkes. “Forbes has every right to have these services but likewise, so does Parkes.” The mayor suggested if the hospitals were further apart “our communities would be fully serviced, and we would not be faced with splitting services between the towns”. “Is it time to seriously consider the benefits of operating Parkes Hospital and Forbes Hospital as standalone entities, rather than shared as part of the Lachlan
Health Service? He asked. “Surely both Parkes and Forbes deserve their own dedicated healthcare services, like other towns of comparable size.” Cr Westcott’s message followed a meeting he and Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee had with the Minister for Health Ryan Park in March to once again fight for maternity services for Parkes. “Maternity services across the state are in crisis,” Cr Westcott said. ■ Continued on page 3
7 DAYS A WEEK 22-36 Parkes Road, Fo bes (Next doo to Bunnings)