In Focus - Rural Women's GP Service
Living in isolated parts of Australia has many challenges. One key challenge is having adequate access to health services.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service delivers medical and other health professionals to many remote parts of Australia for regular health services and for emergencies.
There are some parts of Australia where the only doctor available to the community is male. While a male doctor is able to fully treat patients of both genders, many female patients feel uncomfortable about a male doctor performing various women’s health checks such as Pap smears and breast examinations.
This is where the Rural Women’s General Practice Service (RWGPS) provides an invaluable service.
The RWGPS is set up to send a female doctor to communities without a regular female GP, so that patients who are uncomfortable about seeing a male GP can see an appropriate doctor.
The RFDS has recently completed an evaluation after 10 years of the RWGPS program, and so this program is the “in focus” topic for this month.
You can read about the service nationally around Australia, as well as information specific to each of the RFDS Operating Sections.