The establishment of a dedicated spinal unit at Port Kembla Hospital in 1989 was a godsend, allowing him specialist support close to home.

Now he fears that vital service could be lost under a plan to part-privatise Shellharbour Hospital – where some services at Port Kembla are destined to relocate.

‘’I had the accident in 1982 when I was 24, and at the time there was nowhere else to go for rehab and support than Sydney which took a lot of time and effort,’’ he said.

‘’I’d hate for patients with spinal cord – and other – injuries to have to travel for care again. It’s 35 years on; there’d be even more demand on these services and longer waiting lists.’’

Senior Constable Jones, who was awarded an Australian Police Medal on Australia Day, only has the use of one arm and deals with constant pain.

‘’With spinal cord injuries, issues need to be addressed straight away by specialists and nursing staff who are familiar with your condition,’’ he said. ‘’These services need to be publicly available in our local region.’’

Dr Geoff Murray is one of 48 Illawarra doctors calling on Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard to meet to discuss patients’ concerns over the proposed public-private partnership (PPP).

They hope to form part of a delegation organised by Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward to meet with Mr Hazzard on February 16.

‘’If Port’s rehabilitation outpatients are transferred to Shellharbour Hospital as is proposed then there is no way that a private operator would continue to provide this profit-losing but essential service,’’ Dr Murray said.

‘’Paul, along with other local spinal patients, are extremely concerned but like everyone else they are not receiving any information.’’

Mr Ward said he had organised next week’s meeting at State Parliament on behalf of local NSW Nurses and Midwives delegates, and would ask for clinicians to also be represented.

‘’No decision has yet been made so it’s important the Minister hears from those who support (the proposal) as well as those who have reservations,’’ he said.

Wollongong MP Paul Scully has called for other stakeholders to be included in talks. ‘’People are concerned about the level of service they will get from this model.’’

He added: ‘’There’s not only uncertainty about services at Shellharbour Hospital (under a PPP) but also the future of Port Kembla Hospital and the impact on Wollongong Hospital.

‘’It’s a whole-of-region concern now and the government’s providing very little information to alleviate those concerns.’’