The press release then quotes the NSW Local Health Director of Operations Lyn Weir as saying that “the District is working very closely with the recruitment agency to ensure Dr Patrick Akhiwu can start work in the town as soon as possible”.

The Director then continues on by saying that “Dr Akhiwu is very excited and eager to start his practice in Grenfell. There has been an unexpected delay in clerical processing, but we are all working hard to make sure that this is rectified as a matter of urgency, and he and his family can make their new home in Grenfell in the coming months”. (italics editor’s emphasis)

The Director then finishes off the press statement with some generalised motherhood statements such as “His skills are extensive and varied, and he will be a great asset to the Grenfell community. We will keep the community informed about the appointment process,”

This may well be, however the Record made several attempts to ring Dr Weir yesterday to further clarify some of the statements made in her press release. There was some particular concern at the statement about “coming months”.

At one stage the Record was even able to directly ring Dr Weir’s office in attempt to talk to her but, alas, all these efforts were in vain. The closest the Record got to speaking to Dr Weir re the above subject matter was when the Western Area Health media unit liaison officer rang the Record asking what we wanted to discuss with Doctor Weir.

When told of the concerns about the “coming months” statement the reply was that all contingencies needed to be covered.

This incident highlights the now established practice of most government bureaucrats using their media units to avoid unwanted media questioning over controversial issues.

However, one small piece of relevant information that came the way of the Record during their enquiries into this matter was that the bureaucratic bungle that has caused the delay in the arrival of the doctor is alleged to have occurred over the holidays by the actual recruitment agency in Perth. However, the request by the Record for the agency’s phone number in order to verify that alleged statement has so far not been acceded to by Area Health at the time of going to press.

In the meantime the building of the doctor’s new house carries on apace and the Burrangong Street surgery is almost ready for use and only awaits Dr Akhiwu’s arrival.