Deadly Business 5: We'll come to you - ABC Online

John Hunter Hospital flies its specialists into places like Tamworth, Inverell and Glen Innes to fill the gap.

"If I can get up there and save a dozen people [in] an eight hour round trip, that'd be worthwhile," said Dr Pat Oakley.

Jill Emberson joined Dr Oatley on a Royal Flying Doctor Service flight from Newcastle to Tamworth where he runs outpatient clinics at the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS).

He said many Aboriginal people won't make the trip to John Hunter Hospital to receive urgent care.

"There's a barrier, not just a geographic one, where people don't feel comfortable coming down to a big hospital."

"There's a long way [to go] before we get people to trust hospitals, and white medicine and institutions."

Robert 'Brian' Rumsby was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in October 2013 after he visited the AMS for a check-up.

He has since been receiving treatment from Dr Oakley at the AMS.

"I wouldn't go down to John Hunter, I'd be better off dying than going all that way," he said.

Dr Oakley sees around 14 patients each time he visits the town.

A sense of ownership of the local AMS contributes to higher attendance rates, not just in Tamworth but also in Muswellbrook.

"Having a few of the local elders on side inspires people to come along.

"People turn up and engage in their community centre or AMS, but nowhere near as happily in the hospital."

Dr Oakley said the expense of flying doctors into rural regions is justified if just one complicated hospitalisation is avoided.

"If I can prevent a 50-year-old man from having a stroke or losing a leg then we've saved a huge amount of money."

In the final episode of Deadly Business, hear about an innovative program improving maternal health of Aboriginal women through art.

Tune in to Jill Emberson on 1233 ABC Newcastle, weekday mornings from 8.30am on your radio, online and your ABC Radio app.