After the success of our GPs4RuralDocs program launch, providing GP services to rural health practitioners, we're flying back out again – with Angel Flight in the pilot's seat.
GPs4RuralDocs is a program aimed at supporting rural health practitioners to keep them living and working in the rural communities that need them.
Angel Flight, under their new 'Rural Medi Flights' service have partnered with Rural Doctors Foundation, providing cost effective air transportation that enables our treating GP to access hard-to-reach communities.
Angel Flight has been flying doctors to rural and remote locations since late 2022 and officially launched the dedicated service, Rural Medi-Flights in early 2024, since which time they have been busy flying medics across Queensland.
Angel Flight CEO, Marjorie Pagani comments; "From 2021-2022, we saw an 80% increase in demand for health practitioners requiring reliable, on demand air transport to rural and remote areas."
"We are committing to improving health care access for rural people and by providing reliable, on demand air transport for health practitioners to and from the bush, we are contributing to a more sustainable health care model for rural communities."
Dr John Douyere and the team from Rural Doctors Foundation will fly with Angel Flight from Archerfield to the outback towns of Quilpie and Charleville and be in these communities for the next few days. We will also be visiting the towns of Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi and St George at the end of this month, with Dr John Buckley offering GP services for rural health practitioners.
CEO of Rural Doctors Foundation, Fran Avon, says this partnership is vital to the future of the program, and to the current health crisis in rural Australia.
"Distance and isolation pose a huge challenge for rural health practitioners and so what happens when they need a doctor, and the closest one is over 300 kilometres away? This is the problem we're addressing and it's why we're passionate about providing this GP service for rural health practitioners in rural and remote towns," she says.
"The more time we can spend in each of these towns, the more health practitioners our Treating GP can see. To achieve this, a fly-in and fly-out model is the most efficient way to do it, which is why we're thrilled to have Angel Flight on board."
Amanda Roser, Chair of Rural Doctors Foundation, is excited to see the continuation of the GPs4RuralDocs program and potential expansion for the future.
"We had amazing feedback from the previous clinics we held in Quilpie, Charleville and Cunnamulla. We know how much it means to the incredible health practitioners living and working in these communities – and we're determined to continue supporting them as best we can."
With support from organisations like Angel Flight, we hope to remove barriers to healthcare for medical practitioners by bringing care to them.
Angel Flight Australia is a charitable organisation co-ordinating free, non-emergency flights and ground transportation so people who live in rural and regional Australia can access the specialist medical treatments they need.
Rural Doctors Foundation is a national rural health charity. We exist to give those in rural and remote regions better access to lifesaving healthcare. As rural doctors and community members, we care deeply about the places where we live and work.
As rural doctors, we see health inequities every day. There are fewer services. As well as fewer resources and fewer health professionals in the bush. And as a result, this has a great impact on disease, life expectancy, and mental wellbeing.
