Timing for the planned Eurobodalla regional hospital and upgrades to current services were hot topics at a public meeting on Thursday, November 15.
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Questions and answers were fired at the Southern NSW Local Health District's (SNSWLHD) annual public meeting at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club.
About 50 people attended the meeting with members of the health district's board.
Officials said the board was being restructured and a new CEO would be appointed by Christmas.
Earlier this month, surgeon Dr Michael Holland said the shire could not wait for better services and sought clarity on when the new hospital would be built and reassurance that it would be a tier-four facility.
At Thursday's meeting, Eurobodalla Health Service manager Lisa Kennedy noted the time and complexities involved before the design process could begin.
Ms Kennedy said patient safety and equality were crucial and attracting specialists to rural areas was challenging.
Acting chief executive Jude Constable said the first step was to create a Clinical Services Plan (CSP) which was "being gone through with a fine tooth comb".
Ms Constable said the plan must be designed specifically for the Eurobodalla's needs.
"It's so we can be responsive to the current and future needs of that health environment," she said.
She said it was important to get the design right and planners had learned from the South East Regional Hospital process.
"The Bega Valley hospital is not a perfect hospital," she said.
"There are a lot of challenges in that design, that add cost without benefit to the organisation.
"We want to avoid repeating things that we have learnt along the way."
Not everyone was happy with that answer, with one person suggesting the district should know how to build hospitals by now.
In response to a petition calling for immediate improvements to the shire's hospitals, deputy chair Mark Harrison said upgrades couldn't be rushed and denied delays.
"When these things are done, they are done right - not necessarily quick," Mr Harrison said.
"There is a process to follow.
"There hasn't been delay in the commencement of the process."
During the panel discussion, the community was eager to know what was being done in the interim.
Ms Kennedy said a model of care had been developed for the Eurobodalla.
"We have been working to have it finalised to apply for funding for infrastructure changes," she said.
The changes involved "improvement to emergency and close observation unit space in the Eurobodalla".
READ MORE: Batemans Bay Fast Track Clinic to close
With the Fast Track clinic service no longer operating at Batemans Bay Hospital, one questioner raised summer staffing concerns.
Ms Kennedy replied: "We put on additional doctor hours at both hospitals over the summer".
An elderly Long Beach gentleman sought clarity on the location of the planned hospital.
"I heard someone at Broulee had donated, or offered to donate, land for this new hospital," he said.
"I also heard the council quashed it."
Ms Constable replied: "We don't know anything about an offer of land, and can't comment on the actions of council."
Batemans Bay and Moruya hospital nurse Georgie Rowley presented a petition calling for better services which had received about 2000 signatures in less than two weeks.
"The number of signatures is insignificant compared to the sentiment of comments attached," she said.
She asked the district to keep the community informed and up-to-date with the development and regretted more members of the public had not attended.
