Mayor of the Dubbo Region Ben Shields said a 1200-signature petition from the Wellington community has played a key role in bringing a Parliamentary Inquiry into Rural and Regional Health hearing to the town.
The Inquiry has announced eight hearings will be held across the state with Wellington to host a hearing on May 18, 2021 and Dubbo to host one on May 19, 2021.
In December Councillor Shields and Wellington Business Chamber president Jessica Gough distributed a petition throughout Wellington, and collected more than 1200 signatures in a month from residents who were concerned the town has only one doctor working at the hospital.
This petition formed the basis for Councillor Shields’ submission to the Inquiry, along with some of the information he was provided by hospital users, while collecting their signatures.
A key component of Councillor Shields’ submission was the request for a hearing to be held in Wellington to allow people who had been disadvantaged by the lack of medical specialists to tell their stories.
“The people of Wellington have had to watch their healthcare services decline to the point there is now just one doctor servicing their hospital. If that person can’t attend, there is no doctor on duty. That is unthinkable for a community with almost 10,000 people,” Councillor Shields said.
“Over the last few months I have heard so many stories of people waiting for hours only to be told there is no doctor to see them, or to be in severe pain but forced to drive themselves to Dubbo to get the care they need. The efforts of Wellington people who signed the petition has delivered them this hearing.
“A hearing for Wellington is a great result, and the hearing in Dubbo a day later is an added bonus, but it is important to remember this is only the first step. Success only occurs when Wellington gets more doctors and health outcomes.”
In a sign of acknowledgement that Western NSW is among the worst affected, a hearing will also be held at Cobar on April 30, 2021. Other hearing locations include Denniliquin, Lismore, Gunnedah and Sydney.
“The Dubbo hearing also presents an opportunity for the people of Western NSW to come and tell their stories. The Government should be working hard to close the gap between health provision and services for metropolitan and regional residents,” Councillor Shields said.
The NSW Parliament Upper House Inquiry is chaired by Labor MLC Greg Donnelly and includes Deputy Chair Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) and members Lou Amato (Liberal), Cate Faehrmann (Greens), Wes Fang (Nationals) Natasha MacLaren-Jones (Liberals), Walt Secord (Labor).
Source: DRC