Lack of rural health services distressing - RWNZ

RWNZ president Gill Naylor says the health and wellbeing of rural communities is at risk of further deterioration if something is not done to resolve the issues facing people who live, work and play in rural New Zealand.

In June this year, a rural health strategy was added to the Pae Ora Healthy Futures legislation which came into effect last month. The strategy had been removed during the select committee phase but was added back into the legislation after Health Minister Andrew Little was convinced to add it by his party’s ‘rural caucus’.

Naylor says the challenges rural families face with access to health services are varied and include a lack of rural midwives, lack of rural nurses and GPs, lack of rural mental health services, delays in emergency services such as ambulances and long distances to travel for services like allied health and cancer treatment.

“Whilst we are pleased to see the Government commit to both a women’s health strategy and a rural health strategy – we are wanting to see resource and plans activated to ensure rural women and girls do not miss out on health needs because of their post code,” Naylor says.

She says one solution that has been spoken about is increasing the availability of telehealth, which RWNZ supports, but that will only work when rural communities have access to quality internet and phone service.

“We know the challenges are because of a mixture of business models which don’t suit rural communities and global challenges with the covid pandemic, staffing, and training, however the Government really have to take the lead by resourcing solutions.

“Rural communities are the backbone of Aotearoa New Zealand and deserve equity in the provision of health services.”