In reply: We thank Bailie and colleagues1 for their commentary on our article.2 Our aim was not to undermine the well documented inequities in access to health care experienced by people with lower socio‐economic status and those living rurally. We reported significant disparities in health care use in our article, with socio‐economically advantaged individuals using more specialist services, and those living more remotely using more hospital‐based health care, mirroring Australian trends.3
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- 2. Lindsay D, Whiteman DC, Olsen CM, Gordon LG. Health care service use by people diagnosed with invasive melanoma in Queensland: a benefit incidence analysis. Med J Aust 2023; 219: 417‐422. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/219/9/health‐care‐service‐use‐people‐diagnosed‐invasive‐melanoma‐queensland‐benefit
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- 5. Lal A, McCaffrey N, Gold L, et al. Variations in utilisation of colorectal cancer services in South Australia indicated by MBS/PBS benefits: a benefit incidence analysis. Aust N Z J Public Health 2022; 46: 237‐242.
- 6. Wood SM, Alston L, Beks H, et al. The application of spatial measures to analyse health service accessibility in Australia: a systematic review and recommendations for future practice. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23: 330.
No relevant disclosures.