Far West health report ‘frightening’, says Dalton

MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton says it comes as no surprise people in far west NSW are dying an average five years earlier than their Sydney counterparts.

The Australia Institute has released a report into life expectancy and health in regional and remote Australia that found Far West residents were dying at 79 years of age on average, compared with 84 in Sydney.

The alarming report also found Far West residents were twice as likely to die prematurely, while potentially avoidable deaths were 2.5 times more likely.

Western NSW also has a rate of suicide, twice as high as the city – a trend that has been increasing for the past decade.

Mrs Dalton said this was a frightening report highlighting the inequities in rural health care.

“There is nothing surprising in this report,” she said.

“No matter where I travel across the electorate, the number one issue is always health and lack of access to services.

“We have people who have to travel 100km just to get a dressing change. God forbid if we need treatment for something serious.”

She said it was no surprise suicide rates were high in the Far West when there was no dedicated mental health unit in any hospital across her seat of Murray.

“Barriers and disincentives discourage mental health professionals from working in rural areas and often government positions are temporary or part time with lower rates of pay,” Mrs Dalton said.

The report highlighted the need for change right across rural health because what was in place wasn’t working, she said.

“We need a new model of care right across Murray including a demerge from Murrumbidgee Local Health District and the inclusion of Balranald Hospital into a smaller, rural focused health network,” Mrs Dalton said.

“We also need hospital boards run by local people.”

She said a recent rural health inquiry resulted in 44 recommendations and implementing them as a matter of urgency would start to address some of these issues.