Going the distance for rural doctors

After covering thousands of kilometres and visiting regions from the Riverland to Kangaroo Island, Dr John William’s Rural Tour of South Australia has come to a successful end. 

During his second last week as AMA SA President, Dr Williams made his final stop in Murray Bridge on Thursday 8 May, where he met with doctors from the Bridge Clinic.  

‘Working in rural medicine is tough. We do our best to provide quality care, but it’s difficult to get vital services to our patients. Resources are stretched thin and we face constant pressure and constant change,’ Dr Williams said

‘These challenges impact our patients, too. Despite our best efforts, we know that people who live in rural and remote areas often have less access to medical care and poorer health outcomes than those living in the city. 

‘As the first AMA SA president based in a regional area, I made it my personal mission to ensure regional doctors have a greater say in the decisions and policies that impact them and their communities.’

Dr Williams’ rural tour commenced in the Adelaide Hills in May 2024. During the following 12 months he visited the Riverland, the Limestone Coast, Kangaroo Island, the Iron Triangle and practices on the Eyre Peninsula. 

Although the road trip has rolled to a stop, AMA SA’s advocacy for rural doctors and patients will continue under new President Associate Professor Peter Subramaniam. 

‘As AMA SA President, I see how important it is to keep supporting local health services. But I also know that attracting the next generation of doctors – especially specialists – means making sure they feel safe, supported, and well-connected,’ A/Prof Subramaniam says.  

‘Today’s young doctors want good training, reasonable workloads, and time to build a life outside of work too. If we want them to come to the country, we need to build those supports in.

‘When specialists can treat people locally, it means patients don’t have to travel to Adelaide and wait months to be seen. That helps everyone – including the big city hospitals. But to do that, we need to make it easier for doctors to work here: clearer processes, less red tape, and more backup. Doctors need to feel heard, and when they raise concerns, the system needs to act – not just listen.’

‘I’ve been coming to the Riverland as a vascular surgeon for nearly 25 years. I feel a strong connection to this region and its people. 

As President of the AMA in South Australia, I’ll keep working to make sure doctors who care for country people have what they need to keep doing that.’ 

Keep an eye on AMA SA’s website for events in your region.