Nationals Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, says the Special Commission of Inquiry into healthcare funding must focus on incentives to bring more health workers to the region.
The Special Commission is conducting a review of the funding of health services in NSW. The review is examining:
- the existing governance and accountability structure of NSW Health
- the way NSW Health funds health services delivered in public hospitals and community settings
- strategies available to address escalating costs, limit wastage and identify areas of improvement in financial management.
It's holding hearings in Tamworth from today, Tuesday September 17, to Friday, September 20.
Mr Anderson has written to the Commission, calling for an increase in incentives to bring nurses, midwives, doctors, and specialists.
"Attracting and retaining healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, doctors, specialists and allied health continues to be a significant challenge," Mr Anderson said.
"Significant resources have been allocated to attracting healthcare workers, but more needs to be done, and further incentives could be the answer to our workforce shortages.
"The shortage of midwives in Tamworth and Gunnedah is dire, and after meeting with nurses and midwives, as well as local obstetrics and gynaecology specialists last week, I'm calling on the government to improve pay and conditions for our nurses and midwives."
Mr Anderson has also raised concerns about the reliance on visiting medical officers and locums.
"I'm concerned that an overreliance on locums and VMO's is placing further strain on hospital budgets. There should be pay equity between fly in/fly out locums and local health care professionals.
"The government needs to be innovative in the way it recruits and retains locally based specialists to ensure continuity of care and to reduce the reliance on expensive locum doctors.
"We have pushed for significant investment in our facilities with projects like the $62m Tamworth Mental Health Unit, $53m Gunnedah Hospital, $21m Tamworth palliative care unit, but that needs to be backed up with workforce incentives to compliment the former government's investment in health infrastructure."
The Special Commission is due to deliver its final report by March 26 next year.
