A country practice: Doing regional healthcare better
Meet GP Dr Sonia Henry. Author, passionate advocate for closing the gap on regional healthcare and all round legend.
Every now and again you meet someone you click with instantly. I felt like that when I met author, GP and new Mum Dr Sonia Henry. So on the cusp of International Women’s Day, I’m shouting out the women doing the work - putting their feet in the dirt and ensuring we all have access to the care we deserve.
Around 7 million Australians, or 28% of the population, live in regional, rural and remote areas. And while they are served by some incredible people doing extraordinary work (just like Sonia), those heroes are under-resourced and the people reliant on them can suffer as a result.
Long gone are the days of A Country Practice, but given the theme of IWD this year is to march forward and accelerate action, it’s time to get real about how we do regional healthcare better.
“Healthcare isn’t just city healthcare. Millions of people live in regional and remote Australia and they are wonderful people and wonderful places, and they deserve wonderful doctors.” - Dr Sonia Henry
I loved this chat, and think you will too. Here’s what you’ll find:
01:50: When Sonia realised there was a dark side to the career she had chosen.
02:10: The reaction to Sonia’s book Going Under, which lifted the lid on life as a junior doctor.
03:00: Potts Point to the Pilbara. Sonia’s reaction to landing in the dirt (and loving it).
03:45: People who live regionally fare more poorly than those in capital cities, how doctors are tackling more with less.
05:38: Lions Vision Bus to the rescue! A good news story.
07:00: Access to medicines when you live in the bush.
08:10: How can we better support our healthcare professionals?
08:55: Are we doing a good enough job of educating carers and Next Of Kin?
09:56: How do we future-proof a system that needs to support an aging society and more chronic disease?
10:50: Prevention and the power of primary care.
12:00: Feeling inspired to make change? Here’s Sonia’s advice…
12:40: How becoming a Mum has changed Sonia’s approach to her career.
Here’s the link to our full chat out now - episode two of Austraordinary Heroes.
Wishing you a very Happy International Women’s Day.