Improved health infrastructure in Deniliquin has the potential to impact everyone in the community. A new Deniliquin Hospital as part of a broader health precinct would be a "game changer", according to local physiotherapist Johanna Murphy.
Johanna is supporting Edward River Council's efforts to obtain funding for the hospital because she can see the huge benefits it would bring.
In particular, providing modern infrastructure would attract more medical professionals, both on a permanent and visiting basis, reducing the huge travel burden on so many patients.
They would also provide significant support to the outstanding medical professionals who currently work in Deniliquin.
"Most health practitioners in our community are currently stretched. The service and commitment they offer would be enhanced with a new health precinct. It would help us retain medical professionals, and they could have increased support from visiting specialists," Johanna said.
As a specialist sport physiotherapist, Johanna sees first-hand the challenges her patients face. If a patient has, for example, a suspected knee ACL rupture it can take many weeks to organise a GP referral, MRI and potentially orthopaedic surgeon appointment.
"I know city-based surgeons who would willingly travel to Deniliquin for appointments and surgeries if the facilities here were adequate," Johanna says. "This would take so much pressure off patients and their families.
"The entire process from diagnosis to surgery and recovery would be so much quicker. As a result, the patient is back to their normal life in a shorter timeframe – it benefits their family, employer and the community in general. They're productive again."
Johanna recognises the positive impact a new health precinct would have on patients with various ailments, in particular those with cancer.
"I have patients going through oncology treatment who are forced to travel to Albury, or a major centre in Victoria. They're sick and in pain and are being forced to spend many hours in a car. Often they have overnight accommodation, because it's too difficult to travel for the treatment, then return the same day.
"It's very traumatic, not to mention being very expensive. And the impact is not just on the patient; it can be an extremely difficult time for family members who have to provide the support or be the carer. The financial burden patients are carrying because they want to live in a nice country town is huge.
"We need adequate facilities in Deniliquin to reduce this stress and cost on people accessing medical care. It would allow patients to be in the comfort of their own home with the support people they need.
"This is a quality of life issue for the patient and their whole family, and that has to be recognised," Johanna says.
The challenges can be even greater for those who do not have their own vehicle, especially the elderly. Public transport is not an option, and if an ambulance or patient transport vehicle is required this comes at significant cost to the health system.
For children, being forced to seek treatment for illness or injuries can be particularly traumatic, whether in an ambulance or travelling several hours in a private vehicle while in considerable pain.
"With the right infrastructure in Deniliquin, local children could be treated more quickly and efficiently, perhaps even allowing them to go home that night and sleep in their own bed. As a result it's an easier process for everyone in the family; a much better outcome.
"At present the whole community is impacted by the lack of services, many that people in larger regional centres or capital cities take for granted."
Johanna also acknowledges the cost of accessing appropriate medical care is forcing people to forego treatments and assessments.
She moved to Deniliquin with her husband and children from Melbourne, loves the rural lifestyle, and believes many other medical professionals would relish the opportunity to live in our community if we had appropriate facilities and infrastructure.
"I believe the provision of health services, in particular the current inadequacies, is impacting our community far more than we realise. I think people here are so incredibly patient, accepting long waits to get treatment, but I get frustrated because I know the level of service our health system should be providing.
"My dream is that we will get the facilities our community deserves," Johanna said.
