AN anonymous donor has given $5.2 million to the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) to improve access to high quality health care for vulnerable and remote communities across NSW.
The funding, announced on Tuesday, will forge an alliance between HMRI, NSW Ambulance and the Hunter New England Health District to advance emergency out-of-hospital treatment and telehealth care for patients throughout the next five years.
The philanthropic gift would “level the playing field” for people living in remote and rural areas by providing timely access to world-class clinical services within their own communities via telehealth, as well as maintain the confidence of paramedics throughout the state with additional simulation education and training.
“A person’s postcode should never impact on their medical care,” HMRI director, Professor Michael Nilsson said.
“We can address the current imbalance by mobilising medicine and furnishing regional communities with more sophisticated telehealth technologies.”
