New South Wales Health has apologised to those disappointed at the standard of medical services in regional, rural and remote communities.
Senior staff have been responding to allegations raised at hearings held by a state parliamentary inquiry examining the challenges in accessing medical services outside metropolitan areas.
Some of the claims include hospitals running out of Panadol, operating theatres lying dormant or unable to be used because they do not meet specifications and nurses threatening to leave the industry because of the conditions.
"We acknowledge there has been evidence to the inquiry of regrettable patient experiences and outcomes," Nigel Lyons, a deputy secretary, told the hearing.
"On behalf of NSW Health we reiterate our commitment to continual improvement and to ensure that all patients in the future receive the high-quality care expected and deserved."
Officials reject Panadol claim
Labor MP Walt Secord asked Dr Lyons why three of Tamworth Hospital's eight operating theatres are not being used and why some rural hospitals had run out of basic medications like Panadol.
"It was somewhat of a surprise to hear that evidence and our investigations did not ascertain that there was ever a situation where basic things like Panadol were not available," Dr Lyons said.
"We build our facilities with a lifetime of 20 to 30 years into the future."
Dr Lyons told the Upper House committee that the department was exploring strategies to try to improve the system in rural areas.
He listed four future strategies, including better definition of the roles and subsequent funding commitments of state and federal governments in the delivery of healthcare, as well as better engaging communities in the development of their medical services.
Dr Lyons said that strengthening the rural workforce by aligning training and education with local health needs was also vital.
'We can't act alone'
The inquiry heard that there were still problems and shortcomings despite the volume of work and investment so far.
"What I'm surprised about is the extent to which, despite all the efforts that we have made, there are still so many factors that are working against those things that we have put in place," Dr Lyons said.
Phil Minns, a deputy secretary of people culture and governance at NSW Health, also gave evidence about the challenges the state faced when trying to fix the shortage of GPs.
He said part of the problem was that fell under the Commonwealth's jurisdiction.
"It's a significant and enduring problem and something we have to work with the Commonwealth on," Mr Minns said..
"We need to address the underlying decline in the willingness of medical graduates to enter a career in general practice … [but] we can't act alone — we have to work with the Commonwealth."
'Excruciatingly difficult'
At the opening of Wednesday's hearing the inquiry's chairman, Labor MP Greg Donnelly, paid tribute to the witnesses who shared the traumatic experiences they endured.
"In fact it has been excruciatingly difficult, often taking them back to difficult sometimes tragic experiences or incidences involving family members and friends," Mr Donnelly told the hearing.
The committee has now retired to prepare its report.
