Skip to content
Government NSW

HUGE SPIKE IN PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO VISIT A GP IN COFFS HARBOUR-GRAFTON REGION

NCOSS 2 mins read

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

HUGE SPIKE IN PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO VISIT A GP IN

COFFS HARBOUR-GRAFTON REGION

The percentage of people who can’t afford to visit a GP in the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region has increased more than 130% over the past four years, according to damning new research.

The report titled Access Denied: Australians Locked Out of Quality Healthcare, was commissioned by peak social services body NCOSS and conducted by the University of Canberra.

NCOSS chief executive Cara Varian said the report found that patient experiences with vital health services including GPs, specialists and dentists in NSW had gone backwards since its 2020 report and that regional areas were more heavily impacted than metropolitan areas.

“This report illustrates that the health system is broken,” Ms Varian said.

“When people can’t afford the most fundamental medical care it leads to bad health outcomes and puts pressure on hospitals,” she said.

“These statistics are particularly alarming in regional areas and are a wake-up call for the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to improve affordability and out-of-pocket costs for all Australians.”

The key statistics for the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region include:

  • More than one third of people visit the ED due to their GP being unavailable, significantly higher than NSW overall (23%). This is the third highest proportion across all NSW regions
  • One in five felt their GP could have provided care for their most recent ED visit
  • Almost one in ten people wait 24+ hours for urgent GP care. This is the second highest proportion across all NSW regions (NSW 4%)
  • People visited GPs on average 4.5 times in the previous 12 months, the highest number of GP visits of all regions outside Greater Sydney
  • Almost a quarter delay/avoid dentist visits due to cost
  • 6 in 10 have a long-term health condition
  • Significantly lower ownership of private health insurance compared to NSW (39% v 58%)

“This report shows that people in regional NSW are copping the brunt of a stretched health system and that financial pressures have put healthcare out of reach for too many people,” Ms Varian said.

“Whether it’s visiting your doctor or your dentist, we need to make healthcare more accessible for people outside of metropolitan areas.” 

NCOSS’s research reveals that NSW and Commonwealth Governments should take the following steps:

  • Improve affordability and reduce out-of-pocket costs, particularly for vulnerable populations
  • Enhance healthcare access and availability in regional areas
  • Provide targeted support to groups experiencing the most significant declines in healthcare experiences
  • Address the growing pressure on health services, including wait times and time spent with patients

The report draws on the 2023 patient experience survey (PES) component of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS) and original data estimations produced by the University of Canberra for NCOSS.

NCOSS has developed an Online Mapping Tool which provides a geographic breakdown of the report data by SA2 level. To use the Online Mapping Tool and to read the report, click here.

Media contact: Tom Wald | 0411 305 449

Media

More from this category

  • CharitiesAidWelfare, Government NSW
  • 01/11/2024
  • 14:22
Uniting NSW.ACT

*** MEDIA ALERT *** Uniting NSW.ACT available for comment after Drug Summit in Griffith today

*** MEDIA ALERT *** Uniting NSW.ACT’s General Manager of Advocacy & External Relations Emma Maiden is available for comment following the NSW Drug Summit in Griffith today: Emma said: "Today, people with lived experience and frontline workers talked about the particular kind of stigma experienced by people using drugs in rural and regional areas – with fear of discrimination and judgement playing a key part in people not seeking help in the first instance. "A lack of treatment options and proper funding for local community programs were also high on their agenda. "And the ability to have a person centred…

  • CharitiesAidWelfare, Government NSW
  • 01/11/2024
  • 07:03
Uniting NSW.ACT

Griffith Drug Summit shapes as golden opportunity to save lives

Uniting NSW.ACT has urged politicians from across the divide to back life-saving and evidence-based drug law reform at the state’s first drug summit in 25 years. Griffith will today host the second of three critical forums across NSW, with community representatives, people with lived experience, non-government organisations, support groups, clinical experts, police and government departments among the attendees. Emma Maiden, General Manager External Relations and Advocacy at Uniting NSW.ACT has been invited to attend all three drug summit gatherings. She said: “This is a golden opportunity for the entire community to share what experts, people with lived experience and front…

  • CharitiesAidWelfare, Government NSW
  • 01/11/2024
  • 06:00
Uniting NSW.ACT

Griffith Drug Summit shapes as golden opportunity to save lives

Uniting NSW.ACT has urged politicians from across the divide to back life-saving and evidence-based drug law reform at the state’s first drug summit in 25 years. Lismore will today host the second of three critical forums across NSW, with community representatives, people with lived experience, non-government organisations, support groups, clinical experts, police and government departments among the attendees. Emma Maiden, General Manager External Relations and Advocacy at Uniting NSW.ACT has been invited to attend all three drug summit gatherings. She said: “This is a golden opportunity for the entire community to share what experts, people with lived experience and front…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.