The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has saved thousands of lives in Australia since it came into existence more than 90 years ago. Offering medical services to those living in rural and remote parts of the country, one of the most utilised services is emergency aeromedical retrieval. This involves using a dedicated RFDS to transport patients to an appropriate hospital for further treatment. However, there are concerns that the RFDS is serving as a crutch for the lack of poor facilities and the number of medical professionals in rural Australia. Recent data shows that in 2021-22, it flew 45,374 aeromedical retrievals, a 23% increase since 2016-17.

A Paediatric doctor (who wishes to remain anonymous) based at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, Sydney, said she has noticed an increase in children being flown in from rural parts of New South Wales in the past year.

“I’ve had many rural patients this year arrive via the Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft and look, that’s what the RFDS is there for, but it becomes concerning when it means that the regional hospital in their area is either unequipped or understaffed to be able to handle their case,” said the doctor.

Dr Greg Norman, a rural generalist based at a regional hospital in New South Wales has been relieved that the RFDS has visited the hospital significantly less since he started there at the beginning of 2023.

“I have been trained in rural health and I believe that is hugely important when it comes to GPs working in rural health. I understand what to expect from a rural community and have specialised in helping these people. Because of this, I think we have had fewer visits from the RFDS since I began.  I definitely think my profession is undervalued and we aren’t as supported as GPs in metro areas. This is a pity because it is only with more support that more GPs will actually want to train as rural generalists, ultimately improving the rural healthcare landscape and allowing services like RFDS to help those that desperately need it” said Dr Norman.

Dr Raymond Lewandowski, president of Rural Doctors Association of Australia told the ABC that he also believed that by investing in more rural generalists, RFDS numbers could be reduced.

“What happens in rural areas is people have difficulty getting care for diseases early in the course, and difficulty accessing preventive care,” he said.

“And so often will present much sicker and further along in their disease than they should be by right”.

The Paediatric Doctor at Sydney Children’s Hospital said that until more money is being put into regional healthcare, it isn’t going to be easy to attract rural generalists.

“I have a few colleagues who have gone rural and while they found it to be rewarding work, they didn’t end up staying for longer than two years. Rural healthcare is a hard gig for medical professionals. A lot of people don’t want to live so far from metropolitan areas but also feel like they aren’t being supported or able to evolve their skills since there isn’t a lot of funding put into further training and education in the rural healthcare sector. Until the government realises that there is a real need for better conditions for rural doctors, I am afraid that the RFDS is going to continue to be as busy as ever”.

The amount it costs for the RFDS aircraft to fly also isn’t cheap. An average RFDS flight between Perth and the Pilbara, for example, costs $30,000. The service is funded largely by taxpayers. A 2022 RFDS report stated that aeromedical retrieval services would ‘continue to be in high demand throughout the next ten years’.

At the end of the day, a lot more deaths and illnesses in rural Australia would be avoidable if primary healthcare in these areas was improved. Until then, the RFDS will continue to work tirelessly, helping those that need it.