A parliamentary investigation in New South Wales has been informed that isolated and rural regions are facing doctor shortages because some GPs do not want to serve in public hospitals.
The organisation Rural and Distant Medical Care (RARMS) has testified at the investigation into access to medical services in remote, rural, and regional locations.
Today's panel heard from chief executive Mark Burdack that certain areas in western NSW have physicians who are unwilling to work at the local hospital.
Mr Burdack said before the commission that there are instances of hospitals where the culture is not supportive of having general practitioners in those neighbourhoods inside the hospital itself.
There may be six or seven physicians at certain places, but none of them work in the hospital.
They do not feel effectively supported, or that their professional abilities are appropriately recognised, or that the hospital culture is such that it is not a pleasant place to work.
If medical workers leave a community, the inquest heard, it should be a red warning to New South Wales Health and local administration.
Mr Burdack added that the administration certainly isn’t providing an atmosphere, remunerative structure, working circumstances, or making these physicians feel welcome and clinically valued.
According to the investigation, a significant amount of state and federal money was spent on attempting to attract physicians to distant and rural locations. Still, not enough was done to persuade them to remain.
When physicians arrive in some of these areas, they are met with the reality of services being cut, insufficient infrastructure, spouses unable to find work, and restricted educational options for their children, according to Mr Burdack.
Darriea Turley, the Mayor of Broken Hill, also spoke before the committee regarding the issues encountered by towns in the state's far west.
When the city was targeted by an anti-vaccination campaign headed by mining billionaire and political strategist Clive Palmer, she spoke about her sorrow.
The Upper House committee was informed that fliers were distributed to people advising them not to get COVID-19 immunisations.
Ms Turley said that Palmer’s organisations have been trying to convince people to avoid getting vaccines and, you know, the disinformation that he was leading.
Ms Turley said that Palmer sent brochures to her neighbourhood three or four times, so her people might still have some hesitancy.
The ABC has reached out to Mr Palmer for comment.
The inquiry's 12th session is today, and several witnesses have already spoken about having to travel hours or wait weeks or months for GP and specialist appointments.
Ms Turley provided instances of melanomas that were not removed, persons who were unable to access medical services in South Australia because of COVID-19 border controls, and extended waits for specialist consultations.
She said that one local person got a referral in 2019 and was warned that they may not see a specialist until 2023.
Ms Turley told the panel that they were advised by a specialised clinic that they would be pushed down the list due to priorities. Therefore it may not be until 2023, and she wants to know whether this is appropriate under our health care.
Representatives from Walgett and Wilcannia have testified concerning a withdrawal or absence of frontline services.
During the latest COVID-19 outbreaks, medical resources were flown in to assist the communities.
Walgett nurse Elizabeth Kennedy described how she and her colleagues worked through the clock to complete tests.
She told the panel that she had been warned that beds at their local hospital would have to be temporarily closed due to staff shortages in the coming months.
"Ms Kennedy said that it's becoming worse since she discovered the other day that they don't have any nursing personnel.
That's how horrible things are.
There is also a paucity of mental health care in Wilcannia and other outlying communities.
Aunty Monica Kerwin, a Wilcannia resident, told the committee that her community needs a specialised mental health care worker.
She claims that a lack of these services has exacerbated existing problems.
She also said that people are dying, not from COVID, but from everything else they've been denied.
