Panel aiming to improve health in the bush still not filled despite 170 applications
Despite being opened for applications more than four months ago, a panel of experts to improve healthcare in the bush is yet to be selected.
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A newly-established panel of regional experts aimed at improving health care in the bush is yet to be filled, more than four months after a call for expressions of interest was made.
It’s understood more than 170 applications have been submitted to fill the initial 15 roles on the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel, which opened for applications on April 14.
Established alongside the new portfolio of regional health Minister, which was assigned to Nationals deputy leader Bronnie Taylor, the panel was established in a bid to work with the government to improve rural healthcare.
But despite the call for local experts from across the NSW to join, the panel is yet to be selected by the government.
“It is unbelievable that after making such a big deal of having a dedicated Minister for Regional Health that they have failed to meet one of their first tasks to set up this panel,” Labor’s health spokesman Ryan Park said.
“I would of thought that when an inquiry hears stories about hospitals without doctors, cooks looking after patients and hospitals without basic medication that getting this panel in place would have been an absolute priority but clearly not,” he said.
Regional health Minister Ms Taylor said the panel is “in the process of being selected with due diligence underway”.
Responding to the comments from Mr Park, Ms Taylor said during her time as the inaugural regional health Minister she had secured $883m to develop future regional health workers.
“When I began in this role, I saw a need to establish a group of individuals who work on the ground across our hospitals, communities and health organisations to provide me with frank advice as we look to improve long-term health outcomes in the bush,” she said.
The advisory panel will meet at least every three months once selected.
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