The closure of a GP clinic in a New England town has precipitated a change that will see some residents relocate to access medical treatment.
Physician Tom Bennett and his wife Carmel Bennett, a registered nurse, have kept their Glen Innes clinic open to support the town through a widespread GP shortage, despite being retirement age.
Now in their 70s, Ms Bennett said they could not ignore their ages any longer.
"How long do you keep working for?" she said.
"How long do you put a big part of your life into doing this when no-one else really cares that that's what's happening?
"I feel sorry for the people we're leaving behind, and for the doctors we're leaving behind because they work so hard.
Clinic closure forces change
The pair said after almost 30 years at TR Bennett Medical Services many of their patients were now forced to travel to Tamworth, Inverell, Armidale, and Uralla to secure a GP.
Following their departure, the town will have about seven full-time-equivalent doctors at the remaining three GP practices to service a population of about 8,873 people.
Dr Bennett said the medical staff shortage has taken a big toll on the local doctors.
Mayor of Glen Innes Rob Banham said it was "really tough" trying to attract and keep doctors in town and that it was an ongoing issue for the community.
For the past five years, the Bennetts have tried to sell the practice.
The practice closes as the NSW government committed to bolster its Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).
The scheme will almost double rebates for people in regional and rural areas who need to travel for specialist treatment, but does not include GP visits.
NSW Health said the health budget and increased government support for the industry fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
The federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler, said in a statement, "access to GP services shouldn't be reserved for those that live in our biggest cities."
"Regional GPs do so much to protect and serve local communities, including many who commendably keep working into their later years as there aren't alternatives."
He said Labor has committed $146 million to fund more doctors in regional and rural Australia.
The Glen Innes Severn Council will hold a morning tea to thank the Bennetts for their service on Friday July 1.
