A LEADING Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon has called for some generosity to be shown to long-waiting, frustrated patients in the region.
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Dr Kelvin Kong has been running clinics in the New England region to address a “deplorable” rates of ear disease particularly in Aboriginal communities.
While he’s only a visitor to the region, he feels for the frustrated community often forced to travel long distances to receive treatment.
Locals can wait for months at a time to see the Newcastle-based surgeon, but he was constantly astounded by the response to his visits.
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“I’m always amazed at kindness and generosity of the people despite the long waits and issues,” Dr Kong said.
He said it’s time health services match that generosity and address the “paucity of ENT surgeons” in the region.
He will head a new program training local health workers to screen for ear diseases before they become life-changing ailments.
Dr Kong said hearing issues could have a profound effect on a child’s outcomes in education and employment and said there were links between hearing loss and incarceration rates.
His program will roll-out at the start of next year, but many Tamworth people have been frustrated by delayed access to specialists.
Rachel Kenny moved to town from Sydney in 2011 in search of cheaper housing and a better lifestyle.
After a “major surgery” on a benign ear tumour more than a decade ago, she said she needed regular check-ups.
Ms Kenny decided to take herself to RPA in Sydney for treatment following a recent recurrence. She said she came to Tamworth on the back of the Evocities campaign and was surprised by the lack of health services.
“I was really disappointed, with a population of about 55,000, that’s a lot of people for medical services to be not available,” she said.
Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service chief Rodger Williams said ENT access was certainly an issue in town.
Mr Williams said the service had helped facilitate clinics with Dr Kong for a number of years.
“However, there’s been issues in the past getting that service in town and we’ve had to send our children and people suffering ENT diseases to John Hunter for surgery,” he said. “Any services coming are welcomed, there’s a huge deficiency right across the board.”