The $100 million redevelopment of Bathurst Base Hospital a decade ago never would have happened without the lobbying of the former Bathurst Health Watch group.

Health Watch formed at a time when the downgrading of Bathurst health services in favour of more centralisation in Orange seemed to be gathering pace.

And while the lobby group could not completely stem that tide, providing a focal point for a community's growing concern certainly gave it a few wins.

People power also won the day when Bathurst came together to ensure Daffodil Cottage remained a dedicated cancer care facility rather than being taken over by health bureaucrats for offices or other uses.

In the end it was no less than then-premier Nathan Rees who stepped in to provide an iron-clad assurance that Daffodil Cottage was safe after a concerted community campaign and rally made it clear how the people of Bathurst felt about the facility.

Now it's time for Bathurst to fight again.

Ten years after Health Watch disbanded we seem to be back where we started with regard to health services moving to Orange.

The proximity of the two cities means it would be financially irresponsible to duplicate all services in both centres, but it remains an insult to a city of 45,000 people that we cannot have even a fracture properly treated here.

And with NSW Health currently putting together the Bathurst Community and Region Integrated Clinical Services Plan 2019-2029, now is the perfect time to make a difference.

Councillor Warren Aubin, whose own experience with local health services just a month ago saw him transferred to Orange for minor surgery, is leading the charge by forming a community action group of doctors, business people and other local stakeholders.

It's a start, but the group will need momentum to have an impact.

Bathurst, by its nature, is not an angry community, but we cannot allow ourselves to be short-changed.

As Bathurst continues to grow we will need more health services here, not fewer - and the time to start fighting is now.

Bathurst deserves better and we must fight to make it happen. We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to our city.