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By Brady Jones
Like many Aussies, I'm out in the sun as soon as the first September heatwave rolls in. And like many Aussies I have a few worrying moles that I sure hope aren't cancer.
In conversation with my Dad, he also shares the same worry and recently received an hour long skin check with his new out of area general practitioner. Inspired to do the same thing, I booked a skin check with my long time GP in Castle Hill... and met with not even 15 minutes of attention.
In all honesty, I'm hesitant to switchh doctors, its not only the travel time I will have to cop for basic check ups, but also the known history and somewhat trusted relationship.
A family struggle
My dad, Andrew Jones, has been with his previous doctor in Riverstone for over 30 years and decided to make the switch when small health issues were becoming more concerning.
My dad, uncle and grandfather all trusted the same doctor. I thought this kind of medical history would benefit me, but it just comes down to quality care at the end of the day. I think health care here is quite poor out west. My previous doctor had two rooms, he'd walk out of one, see me for 5 minutes, sign a script. Before you know it he's seeing another patient and I'm still being charged the full cost.
Recently I had an 80cm blood clot running from my groin to my ankle. My new GP urgently pushed for a CAT scan on the same day. If she wasn’t this attentive, I’m not sure what would have happened.” Andrew Jones
For many, it's a stark reality to travel out of area for health care. My dad now travels from Ebenezer to Gladesville just to receive medical attention that's detailed, urgent when needed, predictive and not reactive.
Parents Left Behind
Hawkesbury mum, Rhi, has experienced similar issues with finding good doctors in Western Sydney.
“No paediatrician in this area will take on my 10-year-old daughter’s case, as they don’t specialise in her diagnoses. The GP’s wipe their hands of it, because they refer you, and then you can’t get past specialist reception for an appointment. There’s a lack of qualifications and I guess wanting to help someone who needs treatment desperately.”
Dr Danielle Butler (ANU Centre for Population Health) argues that GP health care favours those who are disadvantaged, however its specialist services that undermine this. Specialist out of pocket costs have continued to rise in the last decade, and private health insurance has tipped thse services towards higher income patients.
“In the city, people have money. If something goes wrong, they can sue. Out here people put up with it.” Andrew Jones
Loss of the Family Doctor
Some are asking themselves whether general practitioners are really putting in the hard yards. Pam Bliss, a Bligh Park resident for 35 years, described local practices as:
“A rotating door... they’re just script writers these days. I’m constantly having to do my own research and tell them what I want. I find I can’t establish a relationship with a doctor because they never stick around for long enough. I just want someone to instill confidence in me. You used to have a family doctor, but there’s no such thing anymore. It’s just whoever is on duty.”
Strain on Health Care Workers
A looming question is if health care is any better for the people administering it in the West. Matthew McKee, a local resident of Katoomba and worker in the Hawkesbury, sympathises with healthcare staff and their poor working conditions.
“Every shift that my wife goes to at the local hospital, SOS messages are pinging her phone pretty much begging for people to work. They’re understaffed, with a lack of senior nurses, poor wages and even worse patient-to-nurse ratios.” Matthew McKee
With suburbs near the Hawkesbury rapidly expanding and infrastructure struggling to catch up, wealthier city suburbs tend to score much better health-wise.
This disparity isn’t new. Just this August, ABC News reported Blacktown and Liverpool hospitals ranked lower than average in the BHI survey. Pictures were released of a 70-year-old man sleeping on the floor while waiting for a blood transfusion.
Paramedics & Systemic Issues
Outside of hospitals and general practitioners, the Health Services Union reported in March 2025 that Western Sydney paramedics were being sent to wealthier suburbs “to plug gaps.”
According to a 2024 Wellbeing Survey Report actioned by Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, people living in Greater Western Sydney ranked access to quality healthcare and support services above other wellbeing priorities such as safety and financial security.
Government Promises
The NSW Government 2025–2026 budget has allocated $3.4 billion over four years into health infrastructure for Western Sydney, including Rouse Hill Hospital, set to be the area’s first major adult hospital.
While on a macro level this investment meets infrastructure needs with new housing, will the level of care on a micro level improve? We’re talking about doctor-to-patient relations, hospital staffing, emergency wait times and specialist services in the local area.
