Nationals Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, has made an urgent request to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park for action after he was notified Moree Hospital would continue to be without a doctor for an extended period.
For the last three weeks, Hunter New England Health failed to flag the absence of a doctor with Mr Moylan, who instead was informed by a community member the hospital would be without a doctor for a lengthy amount of time.
The absence of a doctor has continued this week and patients who present to Moree Hospital are required to use the online service My Emergency Doctor (MED).
"Not having a doctor on-hand in emergency is not good enough," Mr Moylan said.
"Moree Hospital is the most remote of all hospitals which fall within the Hunter New England Health District and should be prioritised to receive a locum.
"Hunter New England Health have instead put in a telehealth system which is unreliable and inadequate for the needs of a hospital which services a community of around 8000 people.
"This business-as-usual approach is not working. A video screen does not work in an emergency."
Mr Moylan said the Minns Labor Government has again failed the people of regional NSW and our more isolated community members by not providing essential services.
"Just because we live in the regions does not mean we shouldn't have access to a doctor in the ED. A video screen is not good enough.
"People are travelling from remote farms and villages with emergency health issues only to be told there is no doctor present.
"It is also on the Federal Government to pull their finger out and address the chronic shortage of General Practitioners in regional areas."
