According to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census data Coraki and neighbouring Woodburn have a combined population of over 2,000 residents and 499 families.
Half of those residents living in Coraki are over 45 years of age and half of those living in Woodburn are over 42 years of age. While children make up almost 19 per cent of the population of both villages.
Yet the Northern NSW Local Health District cannot even supply a sessional doctor for the health centre at Coraki.
The Northern Star, 20 July 2019, p.7:
Ray Hunt is more frustrated than most about living in a town where the hospital has no doctor.
“If you cut your toe, you can’t go there,” Mr Hunt said.
His late wife Anne used to be the “boss” of the original Coraki Campbell Hospital, before it was closed.
The two-year-old, $4 million Coraki Campbell HealthOne facility looks modern and slick and offers dentistry and dietary appointments but services are limited without a doctor.
Down the road on Thursday, about 10 people gathered to voice their frustration about no sign of a doctor for Coraki.
Eighty-five-year-old Tubby Daley was there. He was born in Coraki. He doesn’t drive so when he needs to see the doctor he has to use limited public transport to get to Casino or Lismore.
Peggy Gooley takes her sick husband regularly to Casino and District Memorial Hospital.
Mrs Gooley failed to understand why they couldn’t have a doctor on rotation, even if the doctor was only in Coraki for two days a week.
A list of 241 names of residents who would use a GP shows the solid customer base in Coraki.
Jennifer Sherwin wore a grim reaper outfit to emphasise how Coraki residents felt about the absence of a doctor.
Ms Sherwin believes the contracts the Northern NSW Local Health District is offering are too restrictive.
Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Wayne Jones said efforts had been made to recruit a GP for Coraki Campbell HealthOne, however there had been no successful applicants....
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