The $115 million extension to the Rural Health Outreach Fund was announced in Port Macquarie on Tuesday, September 22.

Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton made the announcement during a health stakeholder roundtable discussion.

Patients from the Hastings with spinal cord injuries have already benefited from the fund.

Mr Coulton said the fund had been extended because it worked so well.

"It just can identify a particular need for a particular area and this provides the financial resources to bring that higher level of expertise that is required," he said.

The fund supports medical specialists, GPs, allied health and other health providers to visit regional, rural and remote areas by subsidising the cost of travel, facility hire and equipment leasing.

The priority areas are chronic disease management, eye health, maternity and paediatric health, and mental health.

"It is a good support, not only to patients, but it is a good support to local GPs," Mr Coulton said.

The fund has provided training to some Port Macquarie GPs from specialist spinal physicians as well as outreach maintenance consultations to patients after discharge from metropolitan spinal units.

Cowper MP Pat Conaghan said extending the fund was important.

"This additional $115 million over four years through the Rural Health Outreach Fund provides support for GP visits, specialist visits and allied health in regional and rural areas," he said.

Mr Conaghan said there were a lot of people in need across the Cowper electorate.

Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick said it was wonderful to have the Rural Health Outreach Fund continue.

He said the fund provided access to various specialist services to support our community.

"These are unique services that are provided [through the fund], in many cases," Mr Dowrick said.

More than 200,000 patients across Australia receive services each year under the Rural Health Outreach Fund.

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