South West Rocks to be reinstated as a Distributed Priority Area

The news comes after lobbying from the South West Rocks community and Cowper MP Pat Conaghan over a 18-month period.

In 2019, prior to the last election, Cowper lost the DPA with Kempsey the only exemption to that.

"I've been working for 18 months to try and get the DPA classification reinstated at South West Rocks," Mr Conaghan told the Argus.

"If you have DPA status you can fill any GP vacancies - that you can't fill with locals - with international doctors from all over the world.

"As of August 1 the DPA status will be reinstated for South West Rocks which will mean the residences of SWR will have easier and quicker access to a doctor."

Mr Conaghan was only informed of the outcome recently.

"It's my understanding a decision was made at the start of this month although sadly we weren't advised despite the fact we'd been doing all the work but it doesn't matter, I'm just happy our hard work has paid off."

The decision was made from the distribution advisory group who determine where exemptions are made for DPAs.

Kempsey Shire Council mayor Liz Campbell was stoked for the SWR community.

"It's great news that the DPA has been reinstated," she said.

"Through the Country Mayors Association and the lobbying we've done it's been identified that in the regions there is a gap between facilities you can have for doctors and allied health.

"We've been advocating for changes in that area, we'd like to see a (state) rural health minister appointed to help address some of those issues."

Mayor Campbell said there are positive changes on the horizon for medical services in the Macleay.

"As a council we've been working with the rural doctors network to try and attract doctors here, there's three or four new doctors coming to our area," she added.

"That will take us back to where we were before, where more doctors will be able to be attracted and retained in SWR.

"Some are coming in the next two months and some will replace ones that have retired or left."

The Voices of South West Rocks community Facebook page has been at the forefront of lobbying for the reinstatement and mayor Campbell was delighted to see their work rewarded.

"The community led conversation around this has been fantastic, it's been respectful and it has achieved a result," she said.

"They gave the community confidence in getting a resolve, which is great."

"VoSWR would like to thank our Federal Minister for Cowper for pursuing this important issue on behalf of SWR residents," Judy McKay stated on the Voices of South West Rocks community page.

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