A lack of funding for medical services in the flood-devastated NSW Northern Rivers means many traumatised residents are not getting the care they need, according to the peak body representing doctors.
In the nine months since Lismore and its surrounds was hit with historic flooding, little support had been offered to doctors in the area, president of the Australian Medical Association Steve Robson said on Wednesday.
"I'm appalled," Professor Robson said, adding both the NSW and commonwealth governments had offered little to medical service providers.
Earlier this year, the AMA campaigned for public health care to be declared an essential service in rural and regional areas, and offered support to healthcare providers in the flood-stricken area.
"The lack of response from governments is a kick in the guts to the hardworking healthcare professionals in this region," he added.
In February and March, Lismore was hit with two record-breaking floods, which killed 14 people and destroyed 4000 homes.
Severe flooding has also caused destruction across large parts of inland NSW throughout the spring months.
"It's been a horrific year for communities impacted by flooding ... and both governments' abject failure to support the ongoing healthcare needs of residents following these events is disgraceful," Prof Robson said.
"This means many traumatised residents in the Northern Rivers region are not getting the healthcare that they desperately need at this time."
It comes as Legal Aid NSW, which provides free legal services, has had a 400 per cent increase in demand at their Disaster Response Legal Service during the past year.
The service is for people impacted by natural disasters to help them navigate insurance claims, housing, tenancies and workers' rights.
The specialist disaster service has advised 5400 people since March - a jump of more than 4400 on the previous year.
Senior Disaster Response and Insurance lawyer Ma'ata Solofoni says months of flooding, coming on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a backlog of insurance claims.
For some clients, consecutive disasters means the wait for insurance processing stretches back years, including to the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires.
Legal Aid NSW chief executive Monique Hitter says the floods, and other recent events including the pandemic, disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities, further driving the demand for free advice.
"Equal access to legal advice is essential to ensure people understand their rights when faced with challenging circumstances like losing their home to flooding," she said on Wednesday.
Despite the backlog in insurance claims the service's solicitors have been providing immediate advice to flood victims at Recovery Assistance Points and are available to provide free advice through the Disaster Response Legal Assistance hotline on 1800 801 529.
In the past week, lawyers have been on the ground in flood-hit areas in the central west, delivering services in Eugowra, Forbes, Wagga Wagga and Gundagai.
Legal Aid teams are continuing to work in Lismore and other parts of the Northern Rivers.
