People in Nyngan and surrounding districts are being urged to help raise funds for Medical Wings Paediatric Services for the town.

Not to be mistaken for Little Wings, Medical Wings Paediatric Services brings volunteering specialists from children’s hospitals to rural and remote communities for clinics to ease the burden of travelling to major centres for care for sick kids.

Around 100 children in the shire have been identified as being in need of specialist paediatric services and would benefit greatly from a regular clinic in Nyngan.

Despite the specialists, pilots and crew volunteering their time for these clinics, each community is required to cover the flight costs of around $1800 per trip or $20,000 per year for monthly clinics.

Medical Wings delivered over 100 paediatric clinics last year across regional and remote NSW and Queensland according to a report offered to Bogan Shire Council by Director People and Community Services, Debb Wood.

Medical Wings an important concept for rural and regional kids - [Image Medical Wings]

“Each clinic typically includes several paediatricians, and the program currently supports over 3,200 families and plays a vital role in improving access to healthcare in underserved areas," said Mrs Woods.

“Medical Wings Paediatric Services flights can also include other specialists being flown in to meet the needs of the community where there is an identified gap in service delivery."

Director People and Community Services at Bogan Shire Debb Wood - [Image Bogan Shire Council]

Derek Francis General Manager Bogan Shire Council says Council is working hard to make this service a reality.

“This is a great service, largely supported by volunteer pilots and clinicians, that we really need in our community,” said Mr Francis.

“We know that there are extensive waiting lists for children and young people in our area to access paediatricians and Medical Wings provides a solution.

“Medical Wings would enable children to access specialists without having to travel while also providing support to local practitioners.

“Council will continue to Lobby Governments to address the shortage of paediatric medical services in rural and remote communities.

“It is important that any donations for this purpose are specified as intended for Medical Wings rather than Little Wings generally – which is also a vital service transporting children to medical facilities,” said Mr Francis.

Derek Francis General Manager Bogan Shire Council. [IMAGE: A.White]

Member for Barwon Roy Butler is keen to work with Bogan Shire to make this a reality.

"Access to paediatric services is a problem across all of my electorate," he said.

"The future of medical services is likely to be partnerships between the NSW Government and non-government organisations like Medical Wings.

"The State Government cannot meet the needs nor provide the services to communities like Nyngan.

"I will be happy to work with Bogan Shire in securing the funds they need for this service to operate for the next 12 months."

“This would be so fantastic if we could get it off the ground,” said a western area mum who has been driving to Sydney for two years for medical treatment for her daughter.

“The cost of travelling and staying for appointments and tests is exhorbitant and tiring, and hard on our family.

“Taking days off work and arranging childcare is another aspect that if the specialists came to us, we wouldn’t have to worry about.

“Our child’s health is paramount, and we do what we need to, but if our community could hold these clinics that would lessen our burden that’s for certain,” she said.