After three long years, hydrotherapy pool advocate Karenne Connors is ready to give up the fight.
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Ms Connors has been campaigning for a hydrotherapy pool at Wagga Base Hospital since March, 2014.
The revelation comes after a new agreement was struck for another year of hydrotherapy pool use at Calvary Hospital on Wednesday.
While Ms Connors is content that the Riverina has a continued hydrotherapy service, she remains concerned about the lack of long-term solution on offer.
“What concerns me is that it is not an ongoing memorandum of understanding,” Ms Connors said.
“It is good that they at least have a plan but it is just a shame there is no permanent solution.”
Ms Connors said her campaign is past the point of no return after Murrumbidgee Local Health District director of operations Brett Thompson again confirmed planning for stage three of Wagga’s Health Service did not include a hydrotherapy pool.
Mr Thompson said the agreement, effective until December 31 this year – provided affordable, clinically-appropriate hydrotherapy services in a state-of-the-art facility.
Ms Connors said residents appear to be happy with the facilities and she has received no complaints about the current arrangement.
Wagga Arthritis Support Group president Lorraine Thomas said she was pleased with the facilities.
She said she was nervously awaiting the hydrotherapy pool’s fate, after the previous agreement came to an end in December last year.
“We would’ve preferred to have stayed at Wagga Rural Referral Hospital but the facilities are beautiful at Calvary and the staff are helpful,” Ms Thomas said.
“I have had no problems with it at all.”
Ms Thomas said residents remain concerned about the future of the hydrotherapy pool.
“We are worried that we may only have a limited time at Calvary,” Ms Thomas said.
“It has all been a bit of a roller-coaster.
“Some people got disillusioned waiting to find out what would happen and are no longer using the pool.”
While Ms Thomas is content with the current situation, she said she would have loved to return to a hydrotherapy pool at Wagga.
“I don’t understand the rationale of not having a pool at Wagga,” Ms Thomas said.
“I am sure other groups would benefit.”