Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Cr Jamie Chaffey has written to NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research the Hon Brad Hazzard and the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care the Hon Greg Hunt requesting an urgent investigation into Hunter New England Health’s inaction in providing General Practitioner services to the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre (GRHC).
Cr Chaffey said he was compelled to elevate the issue due to the fact that despite Hunter New England Health (HNEH) taking over management of the centre almost fourteen months ago, there are still no additional GP services in the Gunnedah Shire.
“Today I have written to both the NSW and Federal Governments requesting they each undertake a comprehensive investigation into Hunter New England Health’s inaction in providing General Practitioner services to the Gunnedah Rural Health Centre,” Cr Chaffey said.
“Since signing an agreement offered by the Federal Government’s then Minister for Regional Health the Hon Mark Coulton MP on 7 August 2020 with full rights to operate the GRHC facility, and despite receiving several expression of interests from prospective GP services, HNEH have not been able to secure a service for the centre.
“I note HNEH have been able to secure a private general surgeon who works out of the facility for one day a month, and two skin cancer doctors who will visit quarterly, but this does little to resolve the current crisis our Shire faces in accessing GP services.
“A NSW Rural Doctors Network State of Play report released in February 2021 found that Gunnedah has a doctor-to-patient ratio of one general practitioner to 2670 residents, almost three times the recommended ratio of 1:905.
“The development of the $6.7 million dollar GRHC in 2012 was a community effort. The then Federal Government funded $4.3 million, and the remaining $2.4 million shortfall was contributed by community fundraising and donations from the Shire’s business community. It is heartbreaking to watch this state-of-the-art facility lay dormant while our residents are forced to travel hours for basic medical services.
“To put it simply, enough is enough. GP services are desperately needed in our community and it is my opinion that unless immediate action is taken by HNEH, the centre should be taken back by the Commonwealth and redistributed to an organisation that will commit and deliver on the provision of GP services.”
