The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper Edition 104

DOCTOR DILEMMA

Disasters and pandemic have put stress on rural health providers

Rural doctor dilemma

LARA LEAHY

Many rural areas struggle to keep up with medical services, and currently, Casino is facing a doctor dilemma. If you are new to the area, and you need the services of a doctor, your options are few. After calling seven practices in the heart of Casino, only three could entertain some kind of assistance for new patients. One can see you if you

currently have a family member attending the practice. A second will help if you provide proof of indigenous heritage. The third has a doctor seeing new patients, however there is a two week wait, due to the amount of people queuing up. New patients are simply being told to “try the hospital”. The practice explained, “We do have daily appointments that we

keep aside for urgent cases, but you are unable to access these until you have had your first appointment where we can document your history. And we do not provide bulk billing. This shortage is a difficulty for the area. We are always trying to advertise for more doctors, but they are hard to find.” There is an organisation to match GPs with rural medical roles, the NSW Rural Doctors Network

(RDN). The RDN is a notfor-profit organisation that works with the Australia’s Department of Health and the NSW Ministry of Health to recruit and support rural medical roles. The Regional Manager from the RDN, Annette Lenstra said, “The issues of drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic over recent years have led to significant demands of rural primary care providers. NSW

Rural Doctors Network (RDN) acknowledges the stress on the ground in rural health is real. “NSW Rural Doctors Network provides tailored recruitment support to remote, rural and regional practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in NSW. RDN is aware of the vacancies in Casino, and we are currently advertising the roles online and through our

networks.” The RDN provides many support initiatives and incentives to attract potential GP’s to rural locations. These include things like role matching, access to grants, and training programs for new GPs, even programs to reduce the time frames for doctors training. The More Doctors for Rural Australia Program “enables doctors who are non-vocationally registered to work in rural regions.”