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Counting the cost of health care in rural & regional Australia
The lack of surgeons based in rural and regional Australia is impacting the health and financial wellbeing of families living in those areas. Long commutes to capital cities to access surgery mean some people are forgoing care entirely.
Economic modelling done by ENT Surgeon and newly-appointed Chair of the RACS Rural Surgery Section Committee, Dr Bridget Clancy, reveals the eye-watering cost to the community. Based in Warrnambool, in regional Victoria, she outlines some of the steps that can be taken to address the shortages of surgeons in country regions.