Whatever their political views, you would be hard pressed to find anyone in a rural area who did not admire nurses for their hard work and dedication.

You would also be hard pressed to find a patient in a rural area who could not see that more resources were needed.

Mr Constance is to be commended for meeting nurses on Friday and we hope he delivers parity with our city cousins for the bush.

A win here would add to the NSW Treasurer’s other victories in the disability sector and in sending city money our way.

However, why stop at Moruya?

Batemans Bay nurses say they are overloaded too and should be included in a shire-wide review.

Friday’s opening of Moruya Hospital’s sub-acute award reflects a commitment from this and previous governments - at both state and federal levels - to rural health.

We are grateful for those commitments, but let’s make sure our bricks and mortar also have the people power they need to offer a first-class service.

Our front-page story on Darcy Coppin concerns another vital cog in the health picture - research.

Darcy and others with hydrocephalus are getting the short end of the stick because vital research has been blocked.

If 50 per cent of all cars that rolled off the production line failed catastrophically in the first two years, there would be an outcry.

Yet, that is the numbers hydrocephalus patients are faced with, each time they undergo surgery to save their lives.

Half of all such surgery will fail within two years.

Researchers would love to know why, but can’t even get past first base.

Pollies of all colours and all tiers of government must get behind children such as Darcy.

- Kerrie O’Connor