After undergoing an amputation, Phillip Norris spent nearly two months in various hospitals across regional New South Wales while waiting for rehabilitation services. <\/p>\n
The New South Wales Rural Doctors Association highlighted that regional hospitals often experience staffing levels dropping below 50% during holiday seasons. <\/p>\n
According to the Royal Australasian College of Rehabilitation Medicine, attracting medical professionals to rural areas poses several challenges. <\/p>\n
After taking his first steps in approximately two months, Phillip Norris described receiving a prosthetic leg as an incredible experience. “I stood up and thought, ‘This is just so good,'” he remarked. “It felt like I had accomplished something monumental, akin to walking on the moon.” <\/p>\n
The 66-year-old radio announcer from Inverell had his leg amputated in December due to complications arising from type 2 diabetes, a condition he has lived with for 30 years. This included painful ulcers and the loss of some toes, ultimately leading to the amputation. <\/p>\n
Throughout his treatment, Mr. Norris found himself in and out of hospitals six times across four different locations, traveling over 2,000 kilometers within the Hunter New England Local Health District. Following his surgery in Newcastle, he was unable to secure a spot at the nearest certified rehabilitation center at Tamworth Base Hospital. <\/p>\n
“They don’t accept patients over the Christmas period,” Mr. Norris explained. “I was informed that the wait could range from six weeks to three months for a bed at Tamworth.” <\/p>\n
While Hunter New England Health declined an interview request from ABC, they issued a statement noting that Tamworth Hospital operated with reduced staffing during the holiday season. Consequently, Mr. Norris spent three weeks in Armidale Hospital for physiotherapy and to be fitted for his prosthetic leg. Following that, he spent an additional three weeks in Inverell Hospital while waiting for a position at the Tamworth Rehabilitation Unit. <\/p>\n
Mr. Norris expressed that during his wait, he felt he was occupying space in hospitals already struggling with staff shortages. “There\u2019s a significant lack of physicians in rural areas, and this situation needs to be addressed,” he stated. “We require more doctors willing to work in country hospitals rather than just focusing on urban centers.” He added that nurses were overwhelmed, noting that some were forced to work double shifts in Armidale. <\/p>\n
On February 2, Mr. Norris began a four-week rehabilitation program at the Tamworth Hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit prior to returning to Newcastle for his prosthetic fitting. <\/p>\n
Sue Velovski, a committee member of the New South Wales Rural Doctors Association, mentioned that staffing levels can fall below 50% in regional hospitals during holiday times due to mandatory leave and existing shortages. “NSW Health sets these dates, resulting in work rosters that reflect a reduced number of medical staff,” Dr. Velovski explained. <\/p>\n
Attracting specialized medical practitioners to rural areas remains a challenge, according to Dr. Velovski. “Newly graduated specialists often prefer secure employment opportunities, which can be more readily available in urban centers. Entitlements, incentives, and compensation packages tend to be more favorable in states like Victoria and Queensland, making them more appealing than roles in New South Wales,” she added. <\/p>\n
Caitlin Anderson, the president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Rehabilitation Medicine (RACRM), noted that patients in rural areas frequently encounter delays in receiving rehabilitation treatment after amputations. “While some prosthetic companies offer periodic services to remote areas, adjustments for prosthetics require ongoing attention, which isn’t feasible to wait weeks for,” she stated. <\/p>\n
Currently, over 7,700 medical graduates and doctors are in training with the RACRM to specialize in rehabilitation medicine. Dr. Anderson mentioned that, although she does not see a shortage of rehabilitation physicians, the difficulty lies in attracting them to less populated areas. “Staff often feel isolated, and with only one or two physicians in a town, professional development can be challenging,” she said. “There\u2019s a high turnover of staff in these regions; some come for short periods, and burnout is a concern.” <\/p>\n
Dr. Anderson emphasized the need for improved workforce strategic planning. “The availability of rehabilitation specialists is uneven throughout the country; while some regions have excellent access, others, especially rural and remote areas, do not,” she explained. “It’s complicated to determine whether we need more specialists or simply better incentives to encourage them to train and reside in these areas.” <\/p>\n
Two months post-amputation, Phillip Norris is back on his feet with his new prosthetic leg. Despite the lengthy wait, he commended the staff who assisted him throughout his recovery. “I’m back, better than ever… well, perhaps not bigger; I’ve lost 20 kilograms, eight of which were from my leg,” he concluded. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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