The NSW government says it will support, or support in principle, 41 of the 44 recommendations of an inquiry into rural and remote healthcare in the state.
But it will not commit to an inquiry into mental health in the regions, or an independent ombudsman to receive and review concerns about the state’s local health districts, instead only noting the recommendations.
The Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, has today responded to the final report which was handed down in May and found the system is “in crisis and is failing residents of rural, regional and remote areas”.
Three of the Upper House committee’s recommendations have been noted.
The inquiry, announced in 2020, has received more than 700 submissions and held 15 hearings across the state.
Ms Taylor also revealed the members of a new ministerial advisory panel.
They include the former chair of the Royal Australian College of GPs rural panel Ayman Shenouda and University of New England clinical pharmacist Anna Barwick.
The panel will be chaired by Richard Colbran, chief executive of the NSW Rural Doctors Network.
The other members are Karen Booth, Jo Caldwell, Leone Crayden, Rick Firman, Louise Fox, Laura Hand-Ross, Ken Keith, Warren Kealy-Bateman, Jennifer May, Georgina Rosee, Meg Austin and Anna Windsor.
More to come.