TROUBLING figures released recently show many illnesses among rural, regional and remote Australians could have been prevented or treated better with accessible primary care, thus avoiding the need for hospitalisation.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), many parts of rural Australia have higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH), highlighting the need for early interventions and ongoing care, particularly for non-communicable diseases.
Unfortunately, Australia’s rural populations, which make up over seven million people, often lack access to such preventive measures.
In 2021–22, there were 11.6 million hospitalisations in Australia (AIHW 2023). Of these, around one in 18 hospitalisations (5.7 per cent or 660,000) were classified as PPH, a rate of 2600 hospitalisations per 100,000 people.
The average length of stay for a PPH admission was 3.9 days.
Overall, the most common condition for PPH in 2020–21 and 2021–22 was dental conditions.
The next four most common PPH conditions (based on highest rates per 100,000 people) were urinary tract infections, iron deficiency anaemia, congestive heart failure and cellulitis.
“We often see rural communities neglecting or putting off their health issues due to limited access to primary care, exacerbated by the tyranny of distance and cost of services,” National Rural Health Alliance chief executive Susi Tegen said.
“This leads to a cascade of problems, including overwhelming an already strained hospital and emergency system.
“This brings us to consider the need to increase strategic and fit-for-purpose investment in rural health care.
“Given Australia’s annual health spending deficit of $6.55 billion in rural Australia, as discovered through independent research last year, we strongly advocate for greater investment in rural health care for communities, which enable multidisciplinary and place-based solutions according to needs.
“The Alliance proposes the Primary care Rural Integrated Multidisciplinary Health Services (PRIM-HS) model, which is community-led and co-designed to meet the specific health needs of communities to promote the preventative aspect of health.
“The model aims to improve primary healthcare experiences, provide culturally safe, high-quality care which would become a major contributor to reduce the rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations in rural, regional and remote Australia, with Federal and State /Territory Government partnership.
Government funding to support this model would mean more rural primary care practices could continue to exist or be established in rural areas to provide essential care that many metropolitan communities take for granted,” Ms Tegen said.
The National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance) comprises 53 national organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the over seven million people in rural and remote Australia.
Membership includes representation from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, health professional organisations, health service providers, health educators and students.
