Skip to main content

Funded through the Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF), the visiting female GP service led by Dr Irene Dolan Price is making a significant difference to women in rural Western Australia by offering access to a female doctor – something not always available in smaller communities.

Many of the clinics are fully booked, demonstrating the high demand for gender-specific care.

Having access to a female GP is not simply a matter of preference; for many women, it is a prerequisite to seeking care at all. The ability to choose the gender of your doctor can significantly impact a patient’s willingness to disclose sensitive issues, engage in preventative screening, or seek help for complex reproductive and mental health concerns.

As Dr Dolan Price reflected, “This is an incredibly valuable service for local women and a great privilege as a practitioner to be able to do this job.”

Her approach, allowing time to build rapport, highlights the importance of trust and patient autonomy in rural healthcare.

Acknowledgement of Country