Six years on and the hydrotherapy pool at Kempsey’s hospital remains closed

After a significant operation on her back in 2011, hydrotherapy made a “massive difference” to recovery for Helen Miles. Living in Frederickton, it was a less than 10-minute drive to the hydrotherapy pool at Kempsey District Hospital. 

But that was until the facility was closed. 

In 2020, the hydrotherapy pool in Kempsey – as well as the two in Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Coffs Harbour Health Campus – were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And while lockdowns have long been lifted, Kempsey’s therapy pool has remained shut.

So what’s taking so long – and why haven’t Kempsey locals seen a change?

Grand opening to closure: The Mid North Coast Local Health District’s (MNCLHD) hydrotherapy pool opened at Kempsey District Hospital in 1987.

A plaque remains in place today commemorating the generosity of the Kempsey community who helped fund the project.   

Not up to scratch: The reason for long-term shutdown began in the early 2020s. While the pools were closed, compliance and suitability assessments were undertaken as part of the local health district’s regular maintenance. It found the Kempsey pool was not up to scratch and would cost too much to fix.

• “The reports identified that the hydrotherapy pools were non-compliant with Australian standards and therefore unsuitable for public use,” a Mid North Coast Local Health District spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster. “These assessments identified that substantial capital investment would be required to ensure the pools could meet compliance standards.”

• “Given Kempsey hydrotherapy pool was constructed almost 40 years ago, it does not meet minimum standards of the National Construction Code or the Australian standards for hydrotherapy pools or design for access and mobility,” the MNLHD spokesperson said.

Not good enough: For Kempsey resident Loma Baker, this reasoning doesn’t cut it. 

Baker was a member of the Kempsey Quota Club (now dispersed) that helped fund the pool project along with other community organisations.

• “It was community money that was put into the pool, and it should still be open for the community,” Baker told the Mid North Coaster. “It should’ve been kept up to date, there’s no two ways about it.”

The MNCLHD said the Kempsey hydrotherapy pool was partially funded by a $152,000 donation made by the Kempsey Sesqui-Centenary Committee.

Travel for treatment: Baker said there are many elderly people in the Shire who would benefit from hydrotherapy treatment, but can’t drive themselves and can’t afford to get to the closest alternative in Port Macquarie.

Great option for those who can get it: Miles underwent a knee replacement last year and was determined to get hydrotherapy treatment to recover and rehabilitate. 

With Kempsey’s hydrotherapy pool still closed, she had no option but to drive 40-minutes to Port Macquarie Private Hospital where the treatment was available.

“I was lucky I had private health insurance, but a lot of people don’t have that advantage,” Miles said.

While her knee was recovering, Miles relied on others to drive her the 120-kilometre return trip – saying she counted herself lucky again to have family close by to help. 

• “Many people don’t have that. I needed more [treatment] but was not up to the drive or the expense,” Miles said.

Community hydrotherapy pools at Port Macquarie Private Hospital, Lake Cathie Medical Centre, Mid North Coast Allied Health at Woolgoolga and Baringa Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour are currently available for patients.

A spokesperson for MNCLHD recommended public heated pools like at the Kempsey McElhone Swimming Complex, South West Rocks, and Crescent Head.