At Deniliquin, community members are calling for two doctors to be employed to solely service the hospital — to cover both day and night shift.
The move is intended to take the pressure off Deniliquin’s existing general practitioners, who have been warning of an impending doctor shortage.
While a recent classification change now allows Deniliquin to hire overseas trained doctors to fill the gap, there are still concerns it may not be enough.
Some surgeries have had their books closed to new patients for extended periods, and some doctors have flagged an intention to leave Deniliquin in the near future.
Deniliquin health advocates Shirlee Burge and Joy Allan said a rally is being planned at Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s offices in Wagga on October 30 to push for the permanent doctors.
They encourage Deniliquin residents to maintain the momentum that saw a community committee formed to help guide health decisions in Deniliquin, and participate.
‘‘There is a sign at Deniliquin Hospital which says its emergency department had more than 800 presentations in September alone,’’ Mrs Burge said.
‘‘That’s a lot of time our existing doctors have been called away from their surgeries or from home to see patients.
‘‘Deniliquin is one of these hospitals which needs dedicated registrars or two full-time doctors.
‘‘Anyone who is able bodied and able to get to Wagga for the protest is encouraged to do so, to continue to fight for health care in our community. We may even organise a bus to go across.
‘‘I would also encourage our local doctors to get along if they can, or I would love to see a representative from each of our clinics.’’
Mrs Allan said having doctors on staff at the hospital would also improve the care offered to patients.
‘‘The nurses and the staff do a great job, but it would be great to relive the pressure on existing doctors,’’ she said.
‘‘This rally has been arranged by community members at Tumut to get permanent doctors in hospitals of a certain size. Not just their own, but in Deniliquin and across the whole Murrumbidgee Health District.
‘‘The move would also benefit Barham.’’
Tumut Community Association Inc. president Col Locke said the decision to hold the rally and invite other district communities to participate came after NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s health concerns were recently dismissed in Parliament.
He said Mrs Dalton’s motion to ‘‘note there is a rural healthcare crisis across New South Wales’’ being changed by Health Minister Brad Hazzard to instead read ‘‘note there are challenges across all regional areas in Australia in delivering health services and the government has done more than any government in history to increase the number of health staff working in the regions and to improve technology initiatives to support regional health staff’’ was the impetus to stand up and demand services which match those enjoyed by our city cousins.
Mr Locke said the doctors in hospital scheme could also help in the recruitment and retention of GPs in rural and regional communities.
‘‘The current model of care grossly impacts the efficiency of the GPs practice and businesses as they are constantly interrupted by hospital work delaying and cancelling appointments and stopping them getting on with Commonwealth funded primary health care programs.
‘‘The key to getting and keeping GPs is to allow them to work uninterrupted with work conditions similar to those of their colleagues in larger towns and cities.’’
Locals interested in going to the Wagga rally by bus are asked to phone Mrs Burge on 0428 821 264.