A qualitative review of the impact of human capacity and infrastructure upon rural general surgery within Australia.

This thesis examines the impact of human capacity and infrastructure upon the provision of general surgery in rural Australia. A qualitative study was undertaken that identified four new themes which summarised how human capacity and infrastructure interact to limit rural surgical provision. These four themes examined the impact of small hospital syndrome, the rural general surgeon identity, the service providers and the need for a social responsibility for surgery within rural Australia.