A spokesperson from Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) said that they are “hopeful” that a doctor will be recruited to the position of Visiting Medical Officer (VMO).

“The Area Health Service is meeting with the Blayney Shire Council, Blayney Health Council and the Central West Division of GPs on Friday February 5 to discuss recruitment strategies,” the spokesperson said.

The chair of the Blayney Health Council, Audrey Hardman, said that she will do her best “to ensure that all the services remain at the hospital” when she represents the community at the meeting on Friday.

“We are looking at a lot of different options about how to retain the services at the hospital,” she said.

“We (the health council) are meeting with GWAHS and Kathy Hillier tomorrow (Wednesday) to see what options we can take to the meeting on Friday.”

Mrs Hardman said it was important that people did not panic about the situation at the hospital.

“Before people get too concerned we need to go through these two meetings,” she said.

“We’ve got one of the best facilities you’ll find anywhere and we will do our very best to provide hospital services as they are at the moment.”

Another doctor for the hospital is one option that will be explored at Friday’s meeting Mrs Hardman said.

“Dr Vijayakumar has been carrying the load in the accident and emergency section for sometime,” she said.

Mrs Hardman said that all the doctors continue in their normal practices.

“At this stage they will continue visiting the elderly at the MPS (Multi Purpose Health Service), at Uralba and at Lee Hostel,” she said.

“They just won’t be servicing the acute beds at the hospital.”

Blayney Shire Mayor Bruce Kingham said he would not comment on “any rumours” about the situation at the hospital until he attends the meeting with GWAHS on Friday when he will “get the facts”.