"The first critical stage in the development of a new hospital is clinical services planning, and the tender process is almost complete with the successful company set to begin within weeks," Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead said earlier this week.

They can't even get staff at the Taree hospital, and they've spent money upgrading it, Jana Box posted on the Great Lakes Advocate Facebook page.

"Keep supporting the established hospital and do a triage service at the private hospital or a medical clinic in Forster.

"No point having two under resourced hospitals with no staff."

Katherine Yates told the story of an agonising wait her son had to endure following an incident at high school.

My son had to wait about an hour in extreme pain for an ambulance, then add the travel time to Taree hospital, she said.

"I can't believe there is no public hospital in Forster; it should have been built, open and operating for quite a few years already."

Sandra Shepherd questioned where a local hospital would source its staff from.

"Working in the medical industry, I know there are genuine massive doctor and specialists shortages in this area."

That's exactly what I'd like to know, Lisa Marriott posted.

"Wouldn't they be better off giving Forster access to after hours doctors and spending money on fixing Taree?"

Stan Clements said he had heard the hospital would be located near Forster high school.

"The site has supposedly been cleared and levelled already."

Fay Morgan believed many larger hospitals were unable to cope with the increase in patients as a result of the closure of small country hospitals, including Bulahdelah

"Bulahdelah people will never forgive the lies we were told by certain people."

Unfortunately the Hunter New England response is that they are undertaking a clinical services plan in which they will look at the the potential for a future public hospital in Forster, Paul Sandilands posted.

"A long way from the statements our sitting member is making. And, yes I have that in writing from Hunter New England".

But, there was a positive response and a plea for members of the community to be grateful and patient.

"This community is so hard to please," Candice Fanning said.

"You all beg for a hospital and then when we get news it's going ahead all you can do is criticise and say terrible things.

"We petitioned for shade sails and now they are going up, people are whinging there aren't enough; be grateful people, things take time."

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