Glen Innes doctor shortage: small town could turn to new strategy to end doctor 'crisis'

Mayor Carol Sparks said she'd called the meeting for Wednesday morning, after she was visited by a number of the town's doctors in recent weeks.

A patient died after presenting at the hospital with an aneurism in 2020 while no doctor was rostered on.

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Two local GPs last week revealed to the Leader that the number of doctors available to staff the emergency room at the Glen Innes hospital had plummeted from 10 to just three in the last year.

Cr Sparks said it's time for action.

"As Doctor James White says, there's enough inquiries going on, why don't we get some action? It's been a long time," she said.

The community could turn to an experimental new strategy to help convince new GPs to call Glen Innes home.

The council has invited rural health consultant Cath Cosgrove to explain her Attract, Connect, Stay project, which is a blueprint for making a small community an attractive option for doctors and other health professionals.

The two-year scheme, which is funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, would aim to resolve a "chronic" health workforce shortage by appointing a Rural Health Workforce Coordinator, among other steps.

Meanwhile, Cr Sparks hopes to be able to speak to the NSW Parliament's rural health inquiry at its Gunnedah hearings next week.

The public meeting will be held at the Glen Innes Library today from 9.30am and anyone is welcome to attend.

A representative from Hunter New England Health will be in attendance.

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