The new CEO of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Emma Field, made her first visit to Temora in her new capacity, although she has visited many times in her previous role as executive director for service delivery. This gave her the opportunity to meet with Temora Shire Council mayor Rick Firman and Temora Shire Council general manager Melissa Boxall to discuss future directions of healthcare delivery in the shire and for Cr Firman and Ms Boxall to raise concerns. Cr Firman said that it was a very good meeting and that she was very impressed with the medical complex that the council built and operates. “We also expressed our gratitude for the new hospital complex that is progressing well.,” Cr Firman said. “There was also discussion about the challenges that, we as a town, are facing in terms of medical services. “We have grave concern about the doctor shortage and again our doctors that we have here currently are doing a terrific job and everyone would acknowledge that. “However, we also have to acknowledge that it's getting harder and harder to get in to see our doctors because, obviously they're very very busy, and then we've got others that are having to go out of town to see a doctor. “We're pleased that the Ms Field is looking at options for how the MLHD can assist and also the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) so we've actually arranging a meeting with the CEO of that organisation Narelle Mills going to have a meeting in relation to how council can help, with our limited resources, try to remedy the situation and ease that pressure on our existing doctors.” It is expected that Ms Field will meet with the full council when she is better established in her new role. Ms Field has an extensive clinical background with 17 years in developmental psychology and trauma as well as other roles throughout the years in district management. Ms Field said that the MLHD has a wonderful working relationship with the Temora Shire Council and mayor Rick Firman “This relationship precedes me, it's a relationship that's been well oiled prior to me with my predecessor over the 11 years prior to me coming along so I benefit from that,” Ms Field said. In talking about her vision for the future of healthcare in the region she said that she believes we are approaching a once in a generation time for healthcare. “That’s exciting,” she said. “For us we are looking at a very different way of delivering healthcare into the future now. “We've got more opportunity than ever to deliver more in the home and more out into the community as opposed to in hospital walls and I think that's exciting. “That's what people want they want to receive care where it's right for them. “There's a lot of care that should be delivered inside a hospital, don't get me wrong, clinically safe care should be delivered appropriately in a hospital, however, there is more we can do to support people in their homes and we've got a wonderful group particularly here in Temora of community nurses, early childhood nurses and mental health teams. “All of those teams that work in community to support people to stay in community so that's one of my biggest priorities is to really focus on getting that as best as we can.” As she looks to the future Ms Field would like to explore how AI technology can be utilised. She is also very focused on how the MLHD support their workforce moving forward and optimise that workforce as well as developing and young people already living in the area in what is termed a grow your own strategy. “I want to see local grow your own strategies in every town across the Murrumbidgee we've got heaps of young people that want to work for us,’ she said.
