Challenges of rural medical practices were in the spotlight last week as Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott showed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services Dr Andrew Laming through local facilities.
The pair visited Headspace Southern Downs, Condamine Medical Centre and Warwick’s Endeavour Foundation on their two-day visit.
Dr Laming also discovered that Allora was desperate for a local health centre manned by local doctors.
“The town’s viability is threatened. If you can’t keep a doctor, you can’t keep a pharmacist and how can you keep looking after your aged care facility if you can’t retain doctors?” he asked.
Dr Laming said the Condamine Medical Centre was a really good example of what should be placed in rural communities.
“Warwick probably has some of the best health services in rural Australia.
“The challenge is being able to attract GPs (general practitioners) into rural communities, even just west of the range in Warwick,” Mr Scott said.
“It’s even difficult to retain them here,” he said.
“We need to make sure there is training and incentives for them to work in a rural centre.”
Meanwhile, Mr Scott said the Endeavour Foundation provided meaningful employment while Headspace Southern Downs addressed mental health issues at an early stage.
Story: Rebecca Brown
