Aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal disorders in rural and remote Australia: the need for improved access to specialist advice.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) provides medical care to populations without access to traditional health-care services. From 2014 to 2018 the RFDS conducted 6007 (≈1201/year) aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. More detailed research is needed to determine specific GI disorders that contributed to this caseload, and in particular inform whether the establishment of a GI specialist service is justified.