Rural and Regional Health Crisis
Communities across rural, regional and remote New South Wales continue to face poorer health outcomes and reduced access to healthcare services compared to metropolitan areas. Workforce shortages, limited GP access, long travel times, service closures and gaps in aged care, maternity care and patient transport are placing significant pressure on residents and communities.
Councils see these impacts firsthand. In many areas, councils are stepping in to support access to healthcare services, despite health being primarily a State and Commonwealth responsibility. Local Government NSW is advocating for meaningful action to address these challenges through Caring for Our Regions, a six-point action plan on rural and regional health.
Caring for our regions action plan
The action plan sets out key priorities to improve access to healthcare services and health outcomes for rural and regional communities. The plan builds on the findings of multiple parliamentary inquiries and the advocacy councils have already undertaken.
The six actions are to:
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1. Strengthen the regional health workforce through sustained and targeted investment.
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2. Establish a GP guarantee to ensure reliable access to primary care in rural and regional communities.
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3. Reimburse councils for filling health service gaps, where councils are forced to intervene to maintain local access to care.
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4. Fund patient transport as core health infrastructure, recognising its essential role in accessing health services.
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5. Restore safe, local maternity care in rural and regional communities.
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6. Invest in community-based aged care and ageing-in-place supports to reduce pressure on hospitals and enable people to remain in their communities.
