General News
14 November, 2025
$20k a year needed to fund paediatric clinics
More than 100 children in the Bogan shire require specialist paediatric services but it will cost around $20,000 a year to fly in city-based specialists for monthly clinics.
The registered aviation medical charity Little Wings currently flies children from Nyngan free of charge to Sydney to access medical treatment.
The same organisation auspices “Medical Wings Paediatric Services” which brings volunteering specialists from Children’s hospitals to rural and remote communities for clinics.
Bogan Shire Council general manager Derek Francis said the Medical Wings paediatric clinics would address a growing need in the community by bringing the specialists to Nyngan on a regular basis.
However, despite the pilots, crew and specialists volunteering their time, there would be an operational cost of around $1800 per trip which would need to be covered.
Mr Francis said the Duck Creek Picnic Races donated $10,000 to Little Wings following the July race meeting, but unfortunately these funds were not able to be used to bring the Medical Wings service to Nyngan.
“Apparently if you make a donation to Little Wings, it cannot be used by Medical Wings unless you specifically stipulate that at the time of donation - even though Little Wings is the umbrella organisation for Medical Wings,” Mr Francis said.
“As a community we would need to find around $20,000 to introduce and keep the Medical Wings Service running for the next 12 months. It’s a large cost for a small community and does highlight the disparity between access to essential services in rural areas and larger communities.”
Mr Francis delivered a report on the matter to the October council meeting, and it was agreed to explore ways for the necessary funds to be raised so the clinics could be held in Nyngan. In addition, councillors resolved to seek assistance from the Alliance of Western Councils to lobby governments to address the shortage of paediatric medical services in rural and remote communities.
In 2004 Medical Wings delivered over 100 paediatric clinics across regional and remote NSW and QLD.
Each clinic typically included several paediatricians, and the program currently supports over 3200 families and plays a vital role in improving access to healthcare in underserved areas.
Mr Francis said Medical Wings Paediatric Services flights could also include other specialists being flown in to meet the needs of the community where there is an identified gap in service delivery.
“The current need in the Bogan Shire community is quite high. Council has been informed by Little Wings - Medical Wings staff that there are over 100 children requiring Paediatric Services and potentially referrals on to other specialists as well,” he said.
Mr Francis said there were many benefits of hosting clinics locally, including saving families from having to travel long distances for appointments; support for local healthcare providers to carry on some of the ongoing treatment; and access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Council has resolved to promote the benefits of Medical Wings to the local community to encourage businesses, community groups, sporting clubs and individuals to make donations.
It has also applied for grant funding through a local charity but is yet to hear of the outcome of this application.
Other councils in the region have also been approached by Little Wings to run the clinics in their townships.
Similar to Bogan Shire Council, it is unclear whether the communities can financially support the service.
Read More: Nyngan