People in the Mid-Western Region and across regional NSW have been encouraged to share their health care experiences to help inform a parliamentary inquiry.
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The NSW Parliament has established an inquiry into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW. Submissions can be made via the NSW Parliamentary inquiries website and will accept submissions until Friday, January 15.
It states: "submissions about individual health care experiences will inform our thinking about the general provision and availability of health services in non-metropolitan areas".
This follows numerous reports of doctor shortages in some hospitals and multi-purpose services, inadequate care and apparent cutting of staff.
The Mudgee Guardian reported earlier in 2020 a case in Coolah where the town was left with just one private practice GP and the much-publicised Gulgong MPS case which left the town without a doctor for several months. Gulgong MPS welcomed that same doctor back in November after an agreement was reached with NSW Health.
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However, the inquiry will not be conduct any reviews of individual cases mentioned in the submissions.
In particular, health outcomes including barriers to accessing quality services, wait times, staffing challenges, availability of oncology treatment and palliative care, and the differences in outcomes compared to those living in metropolitan areas will be investigated.
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said now was the time for the Minister of Health and local health districts to listen to what regional, rural and remote people have to say.
"For over two years now I've been calling on the NSW government to make the health, welfare and safety of people across rural and regional NSW a priority. They've been slow to act. Now, through political pressure we're seeing some action," Mr Butler said.
"I've been unrelenting in my push to have the local health districts and the Minister for Health act on the issue of regional health care. I do need to give them credit, they have listened to what I have had to say, but sadly, we're still seeing people die for wholly unavoidable reasons."
Mr Butler said the inquiry was taking submissions from anyone who had something to say on the availability of health services and their individual health care experiences.
"Submissions don't need to be long and there is no right or wrong thing to say," he said.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers member said local facilities were under-resourced and that responsibility sat squarely with the Minister for Health.
"At the end of the day I know there's a health budget that needs to balance out, but balancing the books shouldn't be at the cost of people's lives," Mr Butler said.
Submissions can be made via the NSW Parliamentary inquiries website.