The Express Newspaper 15th February 2017

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EXPRESS The

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Locally owned and proudly independent

We will remember them

A SERIES of poppies placed along two rows of plaques at Rocky Creek War Memorial was the Tablelands’ way of saying thanks to its late national servicemen. The names of nine local national servicemen were recognised at a special dedication ceremony last Sunday, ahead of yesterday’s official National Servicemen’s Day. More than 280,000 young men served under Australia’s two national service schemes between 1951 and 1972. FULL STORY – PAGE 4

Hospital rumours quashed THE Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service (CHHHS) has denied rumours Mareeba Hospital’s outpatient services and chronic disease unit are on the brink of closing down. Several rumours persisted last week that both services were being shut, with as many as 11 jobs to go including some doctors, nurses and admin staff. But CHHHS CEO Clare Douglas denied there were any plans to cut staff or services to the hos-

pital. “There are no changes to services or job losses at Mareeba Hospital,” she said. “There are no plans to close or downgrade services we currently provide at Mareeba Hospital, and we are committed to working with council, community, GPs and the Department of Health to plan how GP services will be managed beyond October 2017.” The State Government is still in negotiations

House & Land Packages

with the Federal Government to address a funding shortfall of $2 million when the existing Federal Council of Australian Governments (COAG) funding agreement runs out in October. Outpatient services could be one of those cut if no money is forthcoming from either the State or Federal governments, but Ms Douglas vowed the CHHHS would continue to work with the State Department of Health to ensure “there will be no reduction in services after the Federal Gov-

ernment’s COAG 19(2) funding expires”. “The Mareeba Hospital provides a range of important hospital and community services for the people of the Tablelands and we are committed to working with stakeholders to establish a solution to ensure the sustainable future of the hospital,” she said.

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CONTINUED Page 3


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The Express Newspaper 15th February 2017 by Carlo Portella - Issuu