Farmers to press for more rural doctors

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 19

Farmers to press for more rural doctors

The Dominion president of Federated Farmers' (Mr A. F. Wright) has welcomed the recent statement by the Minister of Health (Mr Gair) expressing his concern about rhe unequal distribution of doctors and medical services. “Representatives of several' provinces of the federation have approached Mr Gair on a number of occasions expressing concern at the lack of doctors in rural areas, and we welcome constructive attempts by the Minister to solve the' problem to the satisfaction of both the rural community and doctors and ■ their families,” Mr Wright said. For most rural districts, the loss of the local doctor, meant a long drawn-out process of trying to attract

a new one to the area. The best incentive was the availability of adequate hospital and maternitybeds and related facilities, and every etfort had to be made to ensure these were kept in rural areas. Many farming families were more than an hour’s drive from ma’i accident and emergency services. and that was one of the main disincentives for rural families and to the recruitment of farm labour into these areas. The maintenance of a reasonable primary health care service was one -'f the most pressing needs in rural communities, and Federated Farmers’ welcomed any moves to rectify the lack of qualified medical staff outside •'*■ -he nn’n centres, Mr Wright said. iae tederation would meet Mr Gair soon to ensure that positive steps were taken, to supply these essential services.