Despite that both the state and federal National Party Conferences “endorsed unanimously an urgent party policy to appoint Specialist Neurological Nurses (SNN) in rural and country areas”, Tamworth and the North West remain without the crucial service.
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John Crosby, of the SNN Action Group, believes that this isn’t good enough. He is demanding more action be taken to support the conservatively estimated, and constantly growing, 730 New England residents living with neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s, Motor Neuron, and Multiple Sclerosis.
“Disappointingly we have been lobbying for this position for over eight years, including having meetings, some very recently, with Kevin Anderson and Barnaby Joyce, but have unfortunately not achieved very much,” Mr Crosby said.
Being a Parkinson’s sufferer himself Mr Crosby is all too familiar with the need for extra support, but is also familiar with the benefits that having an SNN stationed in the region can deliver, including saving the taxpayer millions of dollars a year in avoided hospitalisations alone.
“We have two neurologists in Tamworth and they have a 14 month wait for new patients. They are married now as well, so when they go on holidays together, as they should, the region is left without any neurologists or neural support – there is no cover,” Mr Crosby said.
The story so far:
- Common theme emerges at seminar
- Support Group commits to full time lobbying for nurse
- Senator John Williams reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis
- Senator Williams becomes voice for Parkinson’s
- Senator Williams gets behind push for Neuro nurses in the bush
- Visiting Neuro nurse program scrapped
- National Party unanimously vote to fund Neuro nurses in regional areas
- British studies show financial savings of neuro nurses
Coffs Harbour, Orange and Wagga are just some of the other similar-sized regions that do have the services of an SNN, and while the closest support service is in Newcastle, travel can challenging for people with a neurological disease.
“At the upcoming state budget they need to make allowances for at least one SNN in Tamworth – it has been demonstrated that it will actually save the state thousands of dollars,” Mr Crosby said.
Mr Crosby also stated that a spokesperson for Hunter New England Health had previously expressed a desire to have three SNNs in the region, in Tamworth, Armidale and Narrabri, although that could not be confirmed.
Hunter Health Executive Director Susan Heyman did confirm that Hunter Health has met with members of the SNN Action Group and PD Support Group but “are not currently recruiting” an SNN for the region.
Kevin Anderson’s office said they are planning on sending a letter to the Health Minister, but did not comment any further.
