Regional NSW based health lawyer and Australian Lawyers’ Alliance (ALA) NSW spokesperson on health, Catherine Henry, has welcomed the start of parliamentary inquiry community hearings in rural towns but is concerned to make sure the inquiry brings real change – not another report that gathers dust.

The first of 12 community hearings for the Upper House inquiry into “Health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW” start today (April 29) in Deniliquin. A hearing will be held tomorrow in Cobar (April 30).

Ms Henry said it is easy, although costly, for governments to hold an inquiry. She said little happened after the Garling Inquiry in 2008, except for the creation of the Rural Health Commission.

“We don’t need more reports gathering dust,” Ms Henry said.

“The people of Deniliquin, Cobar and other regional, rural and remote towns in NSW need the crisis in their healthcare system addressed,” she said.

“How many more people have to unnecessarily die or suffer before we see more resources and concerted attention on workforce issues and training?”

Ms Henry’s firm handles many medical negligence cases for people in NSW. She said many local people suffer avoidable death and injury because of preventable negligence, caused by under-resourcing, lack of staff and systemic failures.

“There aren’t enough doctors and nurses are left to carry the burden of healthcare in smaller rural towns.”

“People in regional areas have delays to treatment or have to travel long distances to access treatment.”

“Regional health services not have the proportionate resources that Sydney health services receive.”

She said there are continued media reports about staff saying local hospitals and health services are at breaking point due to the demands on them.”

Ms Henry helped draft the ALA’s submission to the inquiry – one of 700 the inquiry has received.

“Lawyers, journalists and health staff play a vital role in exposing systemic problems in health care but it is up to governments to act to prevent unnecessary deaths.”

“It is one thing to have an inquiry but we need action afterwards.”

“We need a properly funded, data based, strategy to improve rural and regional healthcare and some funding to make it a reality.”

Ms Henry is the principal of Catherine Henry Lawyers and has been a health lawyer for more than 30 years.

The hearings schedule is here.