The southern New South Wales health sector has been experiencing an unprecedented level of staff shortages, with paramedics being called in to fill the gaps.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District boss Jill Ludford said recruiting health staff in regional areas had become even tougher than usual.
"I've never seen vacancies at this level and it is paying a toll on our staff," she said.
"We've just recruited 16 dual-qualified paramedics to come and work. They're perfect for our emergency departments.
"We need that level of experience to be able to work in a rural hospital. Anything might come through the door."
The health district covers a region of southern NSW roughly the size of Greece, and includes major regional centres like Wagga Wagga, Albury and Griffith.
Ms Ludford said recent domestic and international border closures due to COVID-19 were a key contributor to the staffing issue.
"It's time to do things differently now, around how we sell ourselves as a really great career choice and encouraging people to come to the bush," she said.
The district has recently switched its focus to encouraging people already living in the region to work in the health sector, but Ms Ludford said more needed to be done.
Ms Ludford said those incentives needed to include financial ones.
Hospital beds closed for five months
One of the district's hardest hit hospitals has been Deniliquin, a community of almost 8,000 people near the NSW/Victoria.
Last October, the district closed 10 beds at the 26-bed hospital due to staffing issues.
While some of those positions have now been filled, several remain vacant.
Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton, whose electorate includes Deniliquin, fears the beds will never reopen.
"The rural health inquiry highlights the situation in the bush," she said.
Ms Ludford said staff at the hospital went above and beyond during recent months, and the district remained committed to reopening the beds.
"We really want to increase the services provided, including maternity, more surgery and more specialist services," she said
"We're about to start clinical services planning with the community in Deniliquin. We'll be doing that over the next 12 months along with council."
