As detailed by the Western Advocate this week, the loss of the permanent senior oncology pharmacist at the facility has led to new patients receiving chemotherapy being sent to Orange while the pharmacist position is vacant.

The concern, of course, is that this temporary arrangement will become permanent, though the health district (which says it is recruiting to fill the position) says there is no chance of that happening.

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Councillor Warren Aubin, spokesman for the Health Action Group and a man who has not been afraid to speak bluntly about the state of health services in this city, says concerns about the new arrangement have been unfounded, though he is watching the situation carefully.

So, has it all been an overreaction? A case of some snatches of information leading to the wrong conclusions?

Perhaps. But, if anything, the fact the slightest change to Daffodil Cottage caused such consternation should be seen as a good thing, rather than a bad thing.

People won't jump at shadows for something that means nothing to them.

They won't threaten to organise a protest - as West Bathurst roundabout campaigner Kent McNab did - for something they can take or leave.

If there is an increased level of sensitivity about Daffodil Cottage, it's because of the place it holds in the city's heart.

And if there's an increased level of sensitivity about patients being sent to Orange, which was one of the important elements of this story, it's because that is a tender topic in this city.

There is a longstanding suspicion about the state of health services in Bathurst compared with our near neighbour and the thought of Daffodil patients going down the Mitchell Highway would have had a number of locals furrowing their brows even before they had heard the rest of the story.

For now, the health district has been given a warning (if one was needed) about what Daffodil Cottage means to our city.

If temporary arrangement becomes permanent, and unfounded concerns become founded, the health district can't say it wasn't warned.

Cr Aubin has already said all hell will break lose in that case. And that might just be the start of it.