In questions put to him by the News Weekly about the hospital’s future, he could not offer certainty but its best safeguard would be to have the hospital fully operational including maternity services, he said.

“What I am saying we should deal with the immediate challenges and that includes getting maternity back.

“If we get the services in, get opthalmology started, get maternity back it will put the hospital in a much stronger position to withstand any buffeting.

“Trying to get services back should be the first step instead of looking for guarantees of long term survival. Things are not constant; things change and in 5 years’ time who can accurately predict what will be the shape of health services.”

Mr Constance said comments by the CEO of the Southern NSW Local Health District Dr Max Alexander that placed a question mark over Pambula hospital’s future was not news to him.

“The former NSW Labor Government’s submission to the Federal Government to secure funding for the regional hospital was predicated on the closure of Pambula hospital,” Mr Constance said.

“I do hope we see with the opening of the opthalmology unit at Pambula in the new year renewed confidence in the viability of the hospital.”

Mr Constance said the health bureaucrats present at the public meeting would have witnessed first-hand the passion of the community

“They learned how incredibly passionate the community is in the southern end of the shire. It doesn’t shy away from a fight and it doesn’t roll over to the demands of politicians or bureaucrats, that is the strength of the local community and it should be celebrated,” Mr Constance said.