That is a question for not just Armidale, but all regional communities across NSW.

It was also the question that saw The Armidale Express join with Australian Community Media's other regional NSW mastheads over the past week to publish a series of stories examining the state of our health system.

Not just here, but in many country communities. But let's start here. Regional Medical Specialists Association president Dr Peter Hughes raised concerns about our local hospital's capacity to cope.

In the wider Hunter New England Health area, executive director of rural and regional health services, Susan Heyman, explained the planning that had gone into preparing for the pandemic.

There's only so much our health system can take and Ms Heyman said it will put the system to the test if we have large COVID-19 case numbers.

The Delta strain of the virus means the numbers could be worse than predicted.

In towns smaller than Armidale, we learnt that one positive case visiting from Sydney could become a major problem.

Meanwhile, submissions and witness testimony to a State parliamentary inquiry that began a year ago painted a picture of an already chronically ill system.

This series of stories from our ACM journalists aims to shine a light on that health system in these times, and while not everyone will be surprised about it, we should all be concerned.

We deserve better.

All of regional NSW deserves better, rather than being second class citizens when it comes to health services.

Laurie Bullock

Group Editor