Cr Karissa Subedi is pushing for Wagga to have its own dedicated paediatric emergency services. Photo: Shri Rajen.
Wagga Wagga councillor Karissa Subedi has begun a push for the city to have its own dedicated paediatric emergency department and specialist clinic to treat patients needing an overnight hospital stay.
Cr Subedi, a former nurse, is the CEO of College of Nursing Education and Training Australia.
A mother of two, Cr Subedi said she had seen the difficulties that prevented urgent care for children and an emergency department dedicated to kids would help alleviate these stresses.
At a recent council meeting, Cr Subedi introduced a motion – agreed upon by all her fellow councillors – to determine if a paediatric emergency department in Wagga is possible.
“The notice of motion (NoM) was really just to open a conversation and to seek a consideration, if specialised pediatric services, both for outpatient and emergency, could be considered in Wagga,” Cr Subedi said.
“We do have a lot of families who have to leave Wagga who need the specialists. And I do meet a lot of people.
“While doing my research through this NoM, I realise how extensive the need is.
“For example, families who need follow-ups for their cancer treatment. They shouldn’t really have to go to Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra just to get the follow-up appointment.
“If we could do that here in Wagga, then families will not be, you know, parents won’t be out of work. Children won’t be missing out on school.”
In addition to the services it would provide to children, Cr Subedi said the services would also free up wait times for other departments.
“Our paediatric stations are mixed with different age groups,” she said.
“As we all know, the waiting times in the ED as well are quite challenging, so having a specialised service just for paediatrics will ease off the other age groups as well.
“This will only make it more comfortable for pediatrics and safer for them, and at the same time, people waiting, it actually takes off the pressure for staff in all the other departments.”
With Cr Subedi’s motion unanimously passed by councillors, Wagga Council will approach the NSW Government and advocate for the establishment of a children’s ED and specialist clinic.
“I was very pleased to see that all the other councillors voted in favour of the NoM,” she said.
“The next steps will be to write to the Minister for Health Ryan Park, and write to our local member Dr Joe McGirr to present the local need for these services.
“We really are only in the early stages; at the moment we’re just pushing the conversation forward, and hopefully in the future we can see the services that NSW’s biggest inland city deserves.”
