STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is reminding residents that they have until Sunday 13 December to make submissions to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into rural and regional health.

Ms Saffin said the inquiry came about due to public pressure on the NSW Government to do better for rural and regional NSW residents with many service provision areas, and significantly, with health care.

“The health outcomes for rural and regional residents is much poorer than for city residents and the NSW Public Health Information Unit’s research shows this,” Ms Saffin said.

Three key findings are: 

1. Avoidable deaths can be twice as likely in rural and regional communities when compared to cities

2. The median age of death for those in Sydney (79) is more than a decade higher than residents in our most remote communities (66)

3. The highest rates of preventable hospitalisation and preventable chronic disease are in regional and rural areas.

“Too many locals have experienced missing doctors, an absence of services, and in the Tenterfield (Northern Tablelands) area inter-hospital transfers a long way from home when they could just be transferred across the border into a nearby Queensland hospital,” Ms Saffin said.

Ms Saffin has urged the parliamentary inquiry committee to visit the Electorate of Lismore, particularly in Tenterfield and Murwillumbah, in light of some ongoing issues which she has been lobbying on.

“This Parliamentary inquiry is an opportunity to tell such stories to the Parliament through its inquiry.

"We need this inquiry to shed a light on it, so that workable long term solutions can be found.”

The inquiry will consider:

• Health outcomes for people living in rural, regional and remote NSW
• Staffing challenges and allocations
• Access and availability of services
• Planning systems
• Capital and recurrent health expenditure

“This is about fairness for rural and regional residents and the very basic human right to health care,” Ms Saffin said. 

Ms Saffin said a submission can be a handwritten letter and members of the community are encouraged to make a submission.

“I encourage locals to make a submission directly and contact me if you need information or assistance.”

Drop into Ms Saffin's office, located at 55 Carrington Street Lismore, call (02) 6621 3624 or email [email protected]

The closing date for submissions is Sunday, 13 December 2020 with public hearings to take place in the new year.