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The NSW Government will give the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) an extra $15 million in this year’s state budget.
Announced by NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park, the funding will go to support the RFDS’ continued delivery of “comprehensive health services to rural, regional and remote NSW”.
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RFDS’ South Eastern Section has provided aeromedical services in NSW for 97 years, including primary care, dental, mental health, retrieval services and patient and clinician transport, and Minister Park called it “an Australian icon”.
“Its team has been keeping people right across remote, rural and regional NSW safe and healthy for many decades,” the Minister said.
“This funding boost will help regional people access the healthcare they need with a trusted service dedicated to helping others.”
According to Greg Sam, CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), the funding recognises the “key partnership role” RFDS plays in the state’s health system, especially in rural and remote communities.
“We are unique because we are embedded in the fabric of regional NSW, and because our specialist medical teams can go where others cannot. We provide services to communities where in many cases there would be no health services if it were not for the RFDS,” he said.
“From our GPs at our local medical centres, our emergency doctors on call, and our planes at the ready for both emergency and non-emergency healthcare, we are proud to work as part of the NSW health system frontline, providing vital healthcare services to rural and remote communities in need.”
Sam thanked the NSW Government for its support, saying that the funding will “contribute to ensuring that regional, rural and remote communities can access vital life-saving, medical and healthcare services”.
“Every year more than half our funding comes from donations and other RFDS activities, which we invest in delivering healthcare services to the farthest corners of NSW where others cannot reach,” he said.
“We are very grateful to our generous donors for their dedicated ongoing support and recognition for the important work we do.
“We deeply appreciate the unwavering support from our local MP, the Member of Barwon, Roy Butler, who understands the scope, breadth and value of our services, and whose advocacy has been instrumental in securing this funding.”
Independent state MP Roy Butler, whose seat of Barwon includes the RFDS base at Broken Hill, said the RFDS “is, and should always be seen as, a core part of the health system”.
“I acknowledge the role of the RFDS in the history of Regional Australia. They not only save lives but also ensure people receive the care they need as soon as possible, particularly in remote areas of the state where services can be difficult to provide,” he said.
“Thanks again to the Minister and NSW Government, this funding will allow RFDS to continue the excellent work they do.”
