MP, mayor and regional NSW GP respond to health system concerns

This week, Indi MP Helen Haines and Northeast Health Wangaratta acting chief executive Robyn Gillis voiced concerns about travellers returning to the region.

Oncologist Craig Underhill said the Border region should reach above 80 per cent double-dose before welcoming visitors.

MPs and other medical professionals have responded.

The NSW government has announced travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW will only be permitted when the state reaches 80 per cent double dose.

However, Dr Underhill has raised it is a blanket target and all local government areas must achieve at least 80 per cent coverage to protect vulnerable communities and the health system.

Albury MP Justin Clancy was asked if he would advocate for travel to the region to be limited if not all LGAs reach 80 per cent when intrastate travel restarts.

"For me, the focus is very much on addressing why that community's vaccination rate is falling behind and really targeting our efforts towards that community," he said.

"This is a period of significant change as we move from the depths of restriction to opening up, and I certainly appreciate and respect that there's going to be a diversity of opinions.

"We certainly appreciate as well that there's significant demands on our health system.

"I've certainly made sure that at a local level, I'm liaising with the heads of both Murrumbidgee and Albury Wodonga Health.

"It's not a concern that they have raised with me."

Mr Clancy said he was working with vulnerable communities' representatives, including those from the Department of Communities and Justice, on vaccination rates.

"It was important that the state government pushed back movement from Sydney, into the regions from 70 per cent to 80 per cent," he said.

"My sense, too, is we continue to hear of the impacts on communities ... loved ones not being able to be re-united and impact on businesses, and all of these are weighed up."

Mr Clancy acknowledged the impact on the health system would be significant.

"The demands that our health teams will face will be both direct, in terms of COVID cases, but also indirect ... for example, as the health systems in the major metropolitan centers are under strain, that will impact on our ability to recruit locums ... and our ability to refer," he said.

Dr Guha said he agreed with Dr Underhill's position, of waiting until an entire region achieves high coverage.

"I would be really worried about opening up before we achieve our vaccination target," he said.

"If we rush into opening the everything up, we just don't have the capacity to cope.

"With the current manpower and the resources that are available, we are already just keeping our nose over the water.

"Then if we suddenly end up getting a deluge of COVID-related patients ... I don't know how we're going to cope, really."

The centre's target population for vaccination is 11,000 people.

While noting 10 or more per cent may have sought vaccination at Albury, Wodonga or Wangaratta, doses delivered by Corowa Medical sits at 6000.

More community members are changing their minds about vaccination, and weekend clinics are starting soon.

Dr Guha spoke out about long-standing workforce shortfalls in regional areas last year, and said the answer to 'How many COVID cases is too much?' would depend on severity.

"If it is low severity, I guess we can cope with as many beds that are available in the hospital at that given stage," he said.

"But it's not only having a machine ... you need doctors and nurses who can run and monitor that.

"What would I want? A few more spare nurses and doctors; then if there is a surge, we don't end up exhausting our existing workforce.

"At the end of the day, we are as prepared as we can be.

"We will only learn when the cases start flowing through."

Albury city's local government leader Kevin Mack focused on vaccination in his response to the issue.

"Vaccination is the best way each of us as individuals can make a real difference in getting our community back to normal," he said in a statement.

"Once again, I'd urge everyone who's eligible to get their jabs as soon as possible.

"We need as many people as possible to get their two shots so that we can continue to rebuild our economy, keep our businesses open, and enjoy the family and social activities that are so important to all of us."

Six billion dollars has gone to state and territory health systems to meed the additional costs of responding to COVID-19 outbreaks, the federal government says.

Indi MP Helen Haines is inviting residents to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister, "to ensure our regional health system is ready for the next phase of the pandemic".

Federal Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said the issue was in focus.

"The Australian Government thanks our doctors, nurses and medical professionals for their hard work and dedication in preparing for a responding to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

"It is a mammoth effort on all parts and absolutely deserving of our gratitude and thanks.

"At the Australian Government level, the concerns that Ms Haines has raised, that is the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health system, particularly in the regions, is firmly on the agenda."

Dr Gillespie said in March 2020, all Australian governments signed the national partnership on a COVID-19 response.

"As part of this agreement, the Australian Government has provided over $6 billion in funding to support state and territory health systems meet the additional costs of responding to COVID-19 outbreaks," he said.

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"This includes both the direct costs of diagnosing and treating COVID-19, and the broader public health costs incurred during the outbreak. The Government also provided a minimum funding guarantee to ensure that hospitals were not disadvantaged as a result of reduced activity during elective surgery shutdowns.

"This is in addition to the funding under the National Health Reform Agreement, which is provided on an activity basis, which means that as demand for hospital services increases, Commonwealth funding also increases."