The Public Health Information Development Unit of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) analysed premature deaths from heart, stroke and vascular disease for people aged 0-74 years in rural and remote communities throughout Australia between 2016-2020.

The report, “Best for the Bush In Focus”, showed that the standardised death ratio was higher than the national average in some rural areas in South Australia.

The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands had the state’s highest standard death rate, which was 3.92 times higher than the national average. It ranked fifth worse in the country.

This was closely following this was Ceduna/West Coast (SA)/Western with a standardised death ratio of 2.28, Coober Pedy/Outback with 1.92, Port August/Quorn-Lake Gilles with 1.80 and Port Pirie with 1.76.

RFDS Federation Executive Director Frank Quinlan said between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021, the RFDS conducted 5,635 retrievals for heart, stroke and vascular disease in SA.

“Rural and remote communities need rural and remote solutions,” Quinlan said.

“The report seeks to provide the evidence for governments, service partners and communities to work together to deliver innovative, patient-centred solutions to solve these problems and ensure better health outcomes for our rural and remote communities.”

Although the local data is alarming, other regions nationally have higher standardised death ratios. Anindilyakwa/East Arnhem/Nhulunbuy in Northern Territory top the nation at 5.39.

In SA, there are healthcare services available to rural and remote communities, but more needs to be done, the report recommended.

The RFDS operates two aeromedical bases in SA, one in Adelaide and one in Port Augusta, as well as four primary healthcare facilities across outback SA, located in Andamooka, Innamincka, Marla and Maree.

The RFDS is also partnered with the Australian Stroke Alliance and is working towards strengthening referral and education pathways across SA.

In partnership, the South Australian Telestroke Service has been developed in efforts to assist clinicians in managing those in rural and remote settings who have experienced a stroke by connecting the patients to local emergency doctors and providing 24/7 access to diagnosis and treatment.

Based on the findings in the report, the RFDS has called for further access to primary healthcare services in rural and remote areas, better data collection and further resources to support targeted, innovative and fit-for-purpose services for rural and remote Australians.