The NSW Legislative Council is conducting an inquiry into Rural and Regional Health Care
Health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales
This inquiry was established on 16 September 2020 to inquire into and report on health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales.
Submissions about individual health care experiences will inform the thinking about the general provision and availability of health services in non-metropolitan areas. However, this inquiry will not be conducting investigations or reviews of individual cases.
Terms of Reference
(a) health outcomes for people living in rural, regional and remote NSW;
(b) a comparison of outcomes for patients living in rural, regional and remote NSW compared to other local health districts across metropolitan NSW;
(c) access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW including service availability, barriers to access and quality of services;
(d) patient experience, wait-times and quality of care in rural, regional and remote NSW and how it compares to metropolitan NSW;
(e) an analysis of the planning systems and projections that are used by NSW Health in determining the provision of health services that are to be made available to meet the needs of residents living in rural, regional and remote NSW;
(f) an analysis of the capital and recurrent health expenditure in rural, regional and remote NSW in comparison to population growth and relative to metropolitan NSW;
(g) an examination of the staffing challenges and allocations that exist in rural, regional and remote NSW hospitals and the current strategies and initiatives that NSW Health is undertaking to address them;
(h) the current and future provision of ambulance services in rural, regional and remote NSW;
(i) the access and availability of oncology treatment in rural, regional and remote NSW;
(j) the access and availability of palliative care and palliative care services in rural, regional and remote NSW;
(k) an examination of the impact of health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW on indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities; and
(l) any other related matters.
Dr Michael Holland has advised The Beagle that a submission has been made on behalf of the ONE – One New Eurobodalla hospital health care advocacy group.
Dr Holland said "It has once again emphasised the satisfaction of the petition of 2018 and the implementation of the recommendations of the 2017 Agency for Clinical Innovation into clinical services in the Eurobodalla.
"The region needs immediate improvement to Accident & Emergency services and the establishment of Critical Care services to transition to Intensive Care services on the opening of the new regional hospital.
"The region needs a new regional hospital to open with comprehensive level 4 role delineation before 2031!
"Personal experiences and opinions will influence the Committee’s understanding of our needs and affect action on the NSW Health Department policy towards the Eurobodalla and rural health care generally.
"No matter how short your submission, no matter how individual your experience, let the Inquiry know.
Please contact ONE – One New Eurobodalla hospital via oneneweurobodallahospital@gmail.com if you need any help with your submission.
Submissions close 13th December 2020
