Rural, regional, and remote Australians consistently experience poorer access to health care services, travel greater distances to receive services, experience higher rates of ill health and potentially preventable hospitalisations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) receives funding from the Commonwealth Government to provide, amongst other services, primary health care and aeromedical retrievals in remote locations across Australia. RFDS SA & NT is responsible for planning and delivering these services to residents and communities
Broad consultation was a critical component. Health Q completed these consultations over a period of two years. Consultations commenced in October 2021 with stakeholders in far north west of SA, and subsequently include all service locations (NT in January 2023, and North East SA in July 2023). This has ensured broad inclusion of RFDS primary health care consumers, co-located services (including ACCHOs), all relevant state government LHNs and the two relevant PHNs. As a result, almost 500 consultation participants informed the needs assessment.
The needs assessment identified and prioritised 14 opportunities to improve access to primary health care. Subsequent to the report the RDFS has been able to increase the frequency of visits of its medical and oral health teams to remote locations.
Love the presentation of the report, it’s a lot of work we have ahead of us. Some really insightful information that will support planning for remote service areas.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we live, work and play and honour their connection to Country and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
