No respite: Government refuses to commit to funding paediatric clinics

The Minns Labor government has refused to commit to funding two new regional-based paediatric assessment clinics, despite Health Minister Ryan Park saying he recognised families faced "challenges" getting an appointment with a paediatrician.

Children with significant development challenges are forced to wait up to six years to see a paediatrician in regional NSW.

The average wait time is 18 months in rural areas and in some parts of NSW families are being told there is no local service at all.

According to data from children's charity Royal Far West, Dubbo has no appointments available for developmental or behavioural referrals.

Tamworth has a wait time of up to six years, Wagga three years, Orange two-and-a-half years and Coffs Harbour and Bega around two years.

The charity is seeking funding for a three-year pilot to expand their development assessment and treatment service based in Manly with two new rural based paediatric assessment clinics in Wagga and Dubbo.

The pilot is earmarked to cost $4 million in 2025 and then $6 million a year by 2026.

Minister Park told ACM work was ongoing to deliver long-term solutions to the regional paediatric health crisis but noted his government has boosted funding to Royal Far West by $369,000 this year.

He said there were many factors contributing to the lack of paediatricians in regional areas.

"We know that recruitment is one of the biggest challenges to our regional, rural and remote health services," he said.

"We have embraced a number of measures to address shortages and boost recruitment including doubling rural health incentives, boosting doctors in regional GP surgeries, rolling out key worker accommodation and boosting the number of regional paramedics.

"Improving access to healthcare to our regions is a ministerial priority of mine, and I look forward to continuing to work with Royal Far West and other organisations engaged with NSW Health who provide quality healthcare to our communities no matter where they live."

Regional Labor politicians, including Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and Upper House MP and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, declined to comment, directing inquiries to Minister Park.

Royal Far West CEO chief executive Jacqueline Emery warned the excessively long wait for an appointment meant that children were often already in school by the time they were seen by a paediatrician.

"The mental window where you can have an impact and change the trajectory of that child's development is starting to close very fast," she said

More than 60 per cent of the families Royal Far West support come from the Murrumbidgee and western NSW regions.

Shadow Minister for Health Matt Kean did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.

But Shadow Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor told ACM regional kids deserve the same level of treatment as those in the city.

"The NSW Nationals know this, and that's why we established the Regional Health portfolio," she said.

"The Royal Far West plays a crucial role in our regions, providing essential healthcare services that we all rely on."

Ms Taylor said she "strongly" supported the proposal by Royal Far West.

"Regional health is an area where we need to see money invested, but currently, with the Minns Labor Government, we see nothing but cuts," she said.

Dubbo MP and leader of the Nationals Dugald Saunders said he "absolutely supports" Royal Far West expanding its services, particularly for the state's "youngest and most vulnerable".

"I know from talking to people in my own electorate just how important the Royal Far West is, and I absolutely support this organisation expanding its services, particularly for our state's youngest and most vulnerable," he said.

Independent MPs Phil Donato, from Orange, Wagga's Dr Joe McGirr, Murray's Helen Dalton and Barwon's Roy Butler also support the proposal by Royal Far West.

Ms Dalton described the situation as a "crisis point" and a "huge problem" in her electorate.

"Expanded services in Wagga Wagga and Dubbo are necessary, but Murray must also see an immediate increase in paediatric services," she said.

"No rural community should be ignored, and right now that is what is happening currently."

Dr McGirr said the shortage was "made worse by an increasing number of children in serious need of development assessment and treatment services to assist their developmental growth".

"An increase in paediatricians and associated medical staff is essential to give rural and regional children the same care and support as that provided to children in metropolitan areas," he said.

The gap between kids in the city and the bush is stark when it comes to development.

Children living in very remote areas of Australia are up to twice as likely to start school developmentally vulnerable than city kids, according to the Australian Early Development Census in 2021, which is conducted every three years

And fewer kids living in regional and remote NSW are on track for key developmental milestones when starting school, compared to their city counterparts.

That includes physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills and communication skills and general knowledge.

Rural Clinical School School of Medicine at ANU professor Sally Hall Dykgraaf said it would be "naive" to think politics does not play a role in access to services such as paediatricians in regional areas.

She noted there are a range of factors and a "one size fits all approach is not going to work in a country such as Australia".

"Each region will have its own priorities based on their populations; and solutions should be sought with these priorities in mind," she said.