The Northern Tablelands MP said he was told a patient with severe pain from a double hernia turned up in emergency for help on Saturday night, only to be told that there was nothing that could be done as there was no doctor.

He said the patient – a visitor from Brisbane – was turned away without pain relief. 

“This is not good enough for our communities, I feel as though we are being treated as an afterthought by the Newcastle end of town and there is undue pressure on the nursing staff in particular,” Mr Marshall said. 

Mr Marshall said that he was concerned that this was not an isolated incident.

Inverell’s hospital also had no doctor on duty last weekend, and Mr Marshall said he had since learnt that doctor services are not being provided at the Inverell Hospital for a further two days this week.  

“This treatment of the community by HNEH is simply not acceptable and it is only through good luck that a major medical emergency hasn’t occurred during these doctor-less times,” Mr Marshall said.

“I have been in touch with the Chief Executive of HNEH Michael DiRienzo and requested an urgent meeting to discuss these ongoing shortfalls in service – he has told me that there are no staffing problems.

“I will not stand for the ongoing treatment being foisted on these communities and the hospital staff, proper medical backup and support is a minimal requirement and HNEH are not meeting that at this time.

“These hospitals service significant population centres and should be adequately manned at all times,” he said.