News

Huge coup for Corowa Hospital

By Ian Johnson

Dec 17, 2025

Prominent cancer surgeon, Dr John Stuchbery will start work at Corowa Hospital in January bringing endoscopy services back to the hospital and hopes to expand medical services in the future.

Prominent cancer surgeon, Dr John Stuchbery will join Corowa Hospital in a landmark appointment that will see him operating from two newly refurbished endoscopy suites.

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Dr Stuchbery previously worked at Albury Wodonga Health for 27 years until his employment was controversially terminated by the board in September.

No reason was given for the termination, but Dr Stuchbery has said it was due to his criticism of the hospital redevelopment and proposed changes to the management of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.

Beginning in late January 2026, Dr Stuchbery will perform colonoscopies at the Corowa suites fortnightly on Wednesdays and hopes that it will lead to more medical services becoming available.

“I'll probably do some consulting there as well,” Dr Stuchbery said.

“I’ll see some local patients and potentially be able to treat them in their local hospital.

“In time, it may well be that some surgical procedures may be able to be recommenced at Corowa Hospital.”

After his contract at Albury Wodonga Health was terminated, Dr Stuchbery said he wants nothing more than to be able to continue his work.

“I used to do a lot of public colonoscopies at Albury Wodonga Health,” he said.

“I was devastated to lose my position and felt the whole thing was unjust.

“With the termination of my VMO contract I've become unable to look after those public patients, and that's not who I am.

“I want to continue to look after all my patients, and Murrumbidgee Local Health has provided me with an opportunity to continue to do that public work still in the region.

“It presents a new opportunity for a fresh start somewhere else, and I'm hoping it'll work out well for both Corowa and me.”

Better Border Health director Stan Stavros is thrilled Dr Stuchbery will be doing colonoscopies at Corowa Hospital and believes it’s a huge relief for the wider regional community.

“This is a real win for Corowa and district,” Mr Stavros said.

“It means people can get care closer to home instead of travelling, and it helps keep important nursing skills and hospital capability in town.

“This comes after Corowa’s operating theatre was suddenly closed in May 2024.

“It’s reopened recently because the local community fought hard for it; people are sick of rural services being cut or quietly run down.”