While it's easy for any lobby group to start out with all guns blazing as they demand change on their issue of choice, it's far more difficult to keep that energy going as those initial days turn into weeks, months and years.

Experienced bureaucrats and politicians are well aware of that truth, and know that if they just sit tight then there's a good chance that whatever criticism is coming their way will slowly peter out before they need to implement real change.

But experienced lobbyists are also well aware of that truth - and that's why this community is fortunate that there is no shortage of experience behind Bathurst's newest health lobby group.

Today the Western Advocate highlights a number of areas of concerns raised by the health lobby, ranging from on-the-job training for graduate nurses to the value of an emergency orthopaedic service and collaboration between Bathurst's public and private hospitals.

But the key message - and the greatest concern - is that the lobby group, comprising some of Bathurst's most respected citizens, says it has "lost confidence" in the Bathurst Health Service and Western NSW Local Health District and now will be taking its concerns to the Minister for Health.

That's not ideal, and it's not the outcome any of the local stakeholders should have wanted.

But it is a demonstration of how serious the lobby group is about forcing change and that alone should give the rest of us confidence.

Far from losing momentum, the health lobby group is increasing the pressure on decision-makers and that's the surest way to achieve some success.

Bathurst has seen previously what can happen when we allow politicians and health bureaucrats to take us for granted.

Our community needs to demand its fair share of the health funding pie, and we must stay true to our belief that people living in a city of 40,000 people should be able to have a broken arm treated at the local hospital.

This is a campaign for the community, but it is equally a campaign for hospital staff who are also bearing an undue load.

But starting the campaign for fairer funding was the easy part.

Now, as a community, we must all do what we can to keep it going, for the sake of our hospital and our city.