UCRH Director, Professor Vicki Flood and Academic Co-ordinator (General Practice and Community), Dr Christine Ahern, were pleased to appear before the NSW Parliaments Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health yesterday.

Their appearance was part of the second public hearing for the inquiry into regional, rural and remote health. Health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales. This committee, of which Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP is the deputy chair, was established to inquire into and report on health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales. Specifically they are looking at the implementation of the recommendations made by an earlier Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 2 report.

Professor Flood and Dr Ahern spoke about attracting and retaining healthcare workers to the Northern Rivers in a day where the Committee heard evidence relating to health workforce issues, workplace culture and funding.

Other witnesses included Australian Paramedics Association, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (NSW) ASMOF NSW – The Doctors Union, Maari Ma Health, Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, Charles Sturt University, Royal Far West, Can Assist, and NSW Health.