Nationals Candidate for Calare Sam Farraway has blasted the dire healthcare situation across the Central West, calling for immediate action and stronger incentives to attract and retain GPs.
Mr Farraway said with locals from the Mudgee and Gulgong regions forced to drive hours to Bathurst, Orange, or even Sydney for basic care, it's beyond time for an overhaul of how regional healthcare is prioritised.
"It's disgraceful that families across Central West NSW are traveling hundreds of kilometres just to see a GP. Recently, a couple had to drive all the way to Sydney for help with a nosebleed. That's not just inconvenient, it's appalling," Mr Farraway said.
"For these families, driving hours for care is a bitter pill to swallow – we need local solutions, not long commutes.
"Labor forgets about the bush when it comes to healthcare. But if I'm elected, I'll be fighting tooth and nail to bring doctors back to our communities. This is non-negotiable. The Central West deserves real healthcare access, close to home."
"My prescription for change is attracting more GPs to the Central West. I'll be pushing for better incentives to bring more doctors, whether that's in the Nats party room, the Coalition party room or on the floor of the Australian Parliament."
The key initiatives to address the rural doctor shortage are:
• Expand CSU's Murray Darling Medical School and train more doctors in the bush, for the bush-keeping graduates in regional communities to support local families.
• Wipe HECS debts for rural GPs who commit to more than three years in the country, breaking down financial barriers and boosting rural healthcare.
• Rural loadings for country GPs in high-need areas, like Mudgee, Gulgong, Wellington, Canowindra and Carcoar so their essential work is properly recognised and supported.
• Investing in train and retain in the bush to develop GPs locally and keep them here long-term, securing stable healthcare access.
• Ensuring that regional areas get a fair share of overseas doctors moving to Australia.
"This plan puts people first. It's unacceptable that regional families are left high and dry while city communities get the care they need," Mr Farraway said.
"Healthcare reform for the bush is a top priority. No more excuses, no more petitions, no more protests and no more talk. Our rural communities deserve a fair go. It's time to bring doctors back to the Central West."
