BY DAN RYAN

Across rural and regional New South Wales, more families are missing out on essential healthcare, making the impossible choices between food, rent, school fees and medical care.

Across the country, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found more than one in 10 Australians living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage delayed or went without prescription medication when needed due to cost.

Robert Long, ABS head of health statistics, said: “Areas of most socio-economic disadvantage saw 11 per cent of people delaying or going without prescription medication when needed due to cost. This was nearly double the rate of people from areas of least disadvantage (6 per cent).

“More than a quarter, or 27 per cent, of Australians living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage also delayed or did not see a dental professional when needed due to cost,” Mr Long said.

“This was more than twice the rate of people from areas of least disadvantage, which was 11 per cent."

“Only 35 per cent of people living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage had private health insurance cover, compared to 79 per cent of those living in areas of least disadvantage.”

Outside of emergency care, the ABS also found people living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage were also more likely to report waiting longer than they felt acceptable for a GP or medical specialist appointment than those living in areas of least disadvantage.

They were also less likely to have a telehealth consultation.

“On a more positive note, people living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage were more likely to receive coordination of their care than those living in areas of least disadvantage,” Mr Long said.

Lumos data - which follows the patient journey through the health system - found that patients who visit their GP following discharge from hospital had significantly lower rates of being readmitted.

Patients who visited their GP within 2 days of release, were linked to 32% fewer readmissions within the first week, a visit in the first week was followed by 7% fewer readmissions within 28 days and finally, a visit in the first 4 weeks was followed by 13% fewer readmissions down the track (1-3 months).

RACGP NSW and ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman “Many households are feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and making heartbreaking decisions such as whether to fill up the car, buy groceries or medications, or forego a trip to the GP. If patients delay or skip a GP visit, their health can rapidly deteriorate, and they may end up in hospital."

“Every patient, no matter their postcode or income, deserves access to high-quality and affordable general practice care. The good news, particularly for people living in rural communities including Cowra and Canowindra, is that we’re making headway. The Royal Australian College of GPs will train a record number of GPs next year – 20 per cent more than in 2024. Zeroing in on rural GP care, future GPs on a rural training pathway increased by 17 per cent in 2025," Dr Hoffman said. "This of course won’t provide immediate relief for households doing it tough and struggling to access the care they need when they need it, and much more can and should be done to make general practice care more affordable for all patients. The tripling of the bulk billing incentive for pensioners, healthcare card holders and children, which was announced in last year’s Federal Budget, continues to have a positive impact. So, we know that funding gets results, and the Federal Government can provide further cost-of-living relief for all communities by boosting investment in general practice care, including higher Medicare rebates for patients requiring longer consults as well mental health consults, which are particularly important in the bush where access to psychologists and psychiatrists can prove challenging.

“This will help make patients in Cowra and Canowindra, and indeed across Australia, healthier, and relieve pressure on our hospitals"

"At the end of the day, there’s no substitute for the care you get from a GP who knows you, and your history.”