A SUGGESTION to re-form Bathurst Regional Council's health committee has been pushed aside.
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Council previously had a committee that was tasked with looking at health issues, but it became defunct largely to a lack of interest.
At Wednesday night's council meeting, councillor Jess Jennings - through Cr Jacqui Rudge - suggested that the committee be restarted to help with the push for better health services.
"We've already had a working party meeting with the health sector and they have made a formal submission," Cr Rudge said on his behalf.
"At the working party, Cr Jennings asked the health sector CEO Scott McLachlan if he would welcome closer and more formal relations with Bathurst council and he replied 'Yes, absolutely'.
"Cr Jennings requests that Bathurst Regional Council re-start the currently defunct Bathurst Regional Health Committee as soon as possible, for them to perhaps meet every two months, chaired by the mayor or his delegate."
Cr Jennings also said restarting the committee should complement the existing Bathurst Health Services Action Group.
However, spokesperson for the action group, councillor Warren Aubin, said that reforming the committee would not aid the fight.
"It needs more of a heavy hand than council and the hospital," he said.
"Everything that is put to council is that everything is running fine, everything is good, which is what would continue to happen, while the action group has people who know that everything is not running fine."
Cr Aubin said that Bathurst Health Service and the local health district would be willing to work with the council committee as "it would be an easy way out" compared to dealing with the action group.
"[The action group] is not a council group, it's not a council-run group, it's got businesses people on it, it's got doctors on it and they know what we need," he said.
"I think a council group would be worthless."
The community action group was formed earlier this year in response to serious concerns that were brought to public attention.
With local medical professionals as members, it has provided insight on what Bathurst needs by identifying shortfalls.
Cr Aubin said the next step for the action group is to meet with Member for Bathurst Paul Toole to discuss funding for this area.
"It needs an injection of funding for sure, but it needs funding in the right areas, that is the thing," Cr Aubin said.