The results of a health services survey conducted in Wee Waa late last year are now in. The survey received 327 responses, with female respondents accounting for the majority of submissions.

72 per cent of people said they have difficulty accessing the healthcare they need. Some reasons for these difficulties include the distance people travel to access care, the availability of local services, and health workforce shortages.

Of particular concern to people in Wee Waa was the limited availability of urgent care services after hours and the additional travel required to Narrabri in the event of an emergency.

Half of the participants had used a telehealth service in the past 12 months, but many people expressed concerns about the effectiveness of these services. Residents say telehealth is not appropriate in all situations. When it is used, more needs to be done to ensure that telehealth doctors understand the rural context of patients.

Mental health was another area of concern. Access to appropriate mental health services is important but not everyone is seeking help. While 30 per cent of respondents needed mental health support in the past 12 months either for themselves or a loved one, only half of these people ultimately accessed a mental health service.

Many respondents also wanted more information on the range of healthcare services currently available to them in Wee Waa.

These findings are being considered by local representatives as part of the Collaborative Care program which is facilitated by Rural Doctors Network and supported by the Ministry of Health. The project group will meet in May to discuss opportunities to address the issues that have been raised.

Click here to see a summary of the survey findings.