Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District Bill 2025 Survey

Gunnedah Shire Council is seeking the community's views as we consider a submission to the Inquiry into Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025.

The Bill would split the current Health District (which is the largest in NSW and covers a population of about 970,000) into two districts:

1. Hunter Local Health District incorporating: City of Cessnock; Dungog; City of Lake Macquarie; City of Maitland; Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook; City of Newcastle; Port Stephens; Singleton; and Upper Hunter Shire.

2. New England North West Local Health District incorporating: Armidale Regional; Glen Innes Severn Shire; Gunnedah; Gwydir; Inverell; Liverpool Plains; Moree Plains; Narrabri; Tamworth Regional; Tenterfield (part); Uralla and Walcha.

Personal details will remain anonymous in any Council submission, however, we intend to use information provided in the survey responses to inform our submission. We will manage any information you provide us in accordance with relevant privacy laws.

The Legislative Assembly Committee on Community Services is conducting an inquiry into the Health Services Amendment which proposes to split the Hunter New England Local Health District into the Hunter Local Health District and the New England North West Local Health District.

To read more about the Bill, or to make your own submission directly to the Inquiry, visit: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/Pages/inquiryprofile/health-services-amendment-splitting-of-the-hunter-new-england-health-district-bill-2025.aspx#tab-submissions

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* 1. Do you live within the Gunnedah Shire?

Yes

No, but I have relatives who live within Gunnedah Shire

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* 2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

Non binary

Prefer not to say

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* 3. What age group are you in?

12-17 years

18-29 years

30-39 years

40-49 years

50-59 years

60+ years

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* 4. How long have you lived in your community?

Before 2018

Since 2018

Moved here in last 2 years

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* 5. How would you describe overall health services in the Gunnedah Shire:

Excellent

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

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* 6. Do you believe health services in the Gunnedah Shire have changed over the past five years?

Yes, they have greatly improved

Yes, they have somewhat improved

No, they have remained at the same level

Yes, they have somewhat declined

Yes, they have declined a significant amount

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* 7. Do you believe the Hunter New England Health District should be split into a separate Hunter Local Health District and New England North West Local Health District?

Yes

Indifferent

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* 8. What challenges do you think the current Health District is facing?

A need for more general health services

A need for specialist health services

A need for more resources - staff

A need for more resources - equipment, facilities etc

Accountability

Co-ordination of services

Administration costs

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 9. What do you think is working well within the current Health District?

General health services

Specialist health services

Staff resourcing

Equipment, facility resourcing

Accountability

Co-ordination of services

Administration

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 10. What are your major concerns with regard to healthcare services in the Gunnedah Shire?

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* 11. Do you believe these concerns could be addressed by splitting the Hunter New England Health District into two smaller health districts? Please give details.

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* 12. Would you like to provide a specific example/s of your experiences with healthcare services in the Gunnedah Shire that may be relevant?

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* 13. Please provide any other comments or suggestions which may assist us in making a submission to the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COMPLETE OUR SURVEY

If you would like to provide further comment, please email: council@infogunnedah.com.au.