Providing suitable accommodation for visiting health workers is an ongoing issue across regional areas in Australia and the Western Plains is no exception. The opening of four new accommodation units at the Warren Multi Purpose Service (MPS) has been a bonus for visiting health professionals and also for existing staff who travel long distances to work.

The four accommodation units are equipped with a kitchenette, living area, ensuite and air conditioning. They will be maintained by MPS cleaning staff.

For Health Service Manager of Warren MPS, Lynette Harris, the availability of new worker accommodation is the reason she decided not to retire this year.

“I used to travel between my home in Trangie and my work at Warren, a trip of 120 kilometres each day," she said.

"This was wearing thin and I was seriously considering retiring but now I have a place to stay it has literally kept me in my job,” Ms Harris said. “As a HSM I can be called in at any time of the day or night so it really is a game changer for me to be able to stay so close. It’s my second home!”

Warren has 32 aged care, 10 acute care and two emergency department beds and a large number of visiting medical staff who can now access the new temporary accommodation. Retaining long term staff is an added bonus.

"The fact that we have kept such a senior staff member in her job with this accommodation is fantastic," Acting Director of Rural Health Services for Western NSW LHD, Caren Harrison, said.

"They're fit for purpose, secure and safe and being so close to the hospital is great when staff members are on call. We're now lobbying for bigger pods in the health district so that doctors, nurses and locums can travel with their families."

Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, toured the facility's accommodation pods on Wednesday 22 February.

“Addressing the rural medical staff shortage requires a holistic approach - from implementing the largest ever shake-up of the regional health workforce incentive scheme, to providing accommodation to health workers when they move to a new region,” Mrs Taylor said.

“These accommodation pods have been such a success we’re looking to roll them out for other health services like paramedics,” Mrs Taylor said.