"Lack of Female Doctors"

Lack of Female Doctors in Shark Bay

This service was provide by a wonderful woman doctor in the past which has since been stopped.  As a resident of Shark Bay, I would like to raise serious concerns about the ongoing lack of access to female doctors for women’s health services in our community.

I believe that for many women, having access to a female GP is not simply a preference—it is essential for sensitive health issues, preventative care, women's health checks, reproductive health, and ongoing medical treatment. Unfortunately, local women have been left with no choice but to travel out of town to receive these services.

The nearest available female doctor requires an approximately 860 km round trip, creating a significant burden on residents. This involves:

Fuel costs that can exceed $150–$250 depending on vehicle type each way.

A full day of travel or overnight accommodation in most cases, lost income from taking time off work, additional costs for meals and accommodation.

Stress and inconvenience, particularly for elderly residents, families with young children, and those with existing health conditions.

I believe that residents in metropolitan areas would never be expected to travel such distances for basic healthcare services. Yet women in Shark Bay and (most probably other regional / remote areas) have seemingly been placed in exactly that position for an extended period.

I think that access to appropriate healthcare should not depend on where you live. In my opinion, regional and remote communities deserve the same level of healthcare access as the rest of Western Australia.

I urge health authorities and decision-makers to prioritise the recruitment and retention of female doctors in Shark Bay and to provide immediate solutions while vacancies remain unfilled. I feel that the current situation is placing an unfair financial, physical, and emotional burden on local women and families.

Women's healthcare is not a luxury—it is an essential service. I believe that Shark Bay residents deserve better.