The Rudd Government's new National Health and Hospitals Network, it seems, has managed to cause much concerns among the Singleton community.

The Singleton Argus was contacted by various worried residents over the last week, after details of the report were made public. The main concern, it seems, has stemmed from the Federal Government's proposal to cease block funding and give payouts to hospitals on a service basis.

There are also concerns that hospitals which are smaller, in rural and regional areas like Singleton, might not be able to survive under the Government's paid on-service system, mainly because they only end up performing a small number of procedures like surgeries.

Under the proposal put forward by the Rudd Government, smaller hospitals would be covered under a new Local Hospital Network.

"I understand the need for reform and the Federal Government is taking charge with the intention of hospitals managing their own funds by 2012. However it would appear that Singleton Hospital would be run under a Local Hospital Network and that would be out of our control", said Singleton Mayor Cr Sue Moore.