Gunnedah Shire Council is encouraging residents to share their experiences accessing local health services by completing the NSW Rural Doctors Network Gunnedah Health Service Survey.
The survey has been created by the NSW Rural Doctors Network to assist in the development of a General Practitioner attraction and retention strategy for Gunnedah.
Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Cr Jamie Chaffey said the strategy will provide a template for addressing the community's long term health needs.
"In a Mayoral Minute at the November Ordinary Council Meeting last year, Council voted to engage the NSW Rural Doctors Network to look at solutions to the Shire's critical general practitioner shortage," Cr Chaffey said.
"While health services remain the responsibility of State and Federal Governments, the Rural Doctors Network strategy will help identify opportunities for advocacy and ensure Gunnedah's health services are a priority for both levels of government.
"The Rural Doctors Network has commenced work on the strategy, assembling information about our population, GP and hospital services to gain insight into workforce shortages and strengths.
"The next step in this process is conducting a confidential survey of residents to gather our experiences of using the local health system over the past year.
"I urge all Gunnedah Shire residents to have their say in this survey so we can present our experiences and frustrations collectively.
"Our participation in this survey will directly assist the Rural Doctors Network to recommend immediate, medium and long term solutions to address Gunnedah's GP shortage."
Participants can complete the survey for themselves, or on behalf of friends and family members.
The Gunnedah Health Service Survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCV5KJY. Responses close on Sunday April 18, 2021.
