Given Dubbo offers night-time and weekend consultations with GPs, some of them bulk-billing patients, there is no doubt that the emergency department is carrying more than its share of the load.

Dubbo's overworked emergency department is one of many in Australia.

Overuse of the free service has been hurting state health budgets and taxpayers for years.

Ironically, the federal government may provide a solution if it introduces a mooted $6 Medicare co-payment for seeing a GP.

Speculation is rife that such a move would prompt the Commonwealth to allow the states to charge patients $6 should they turn up to an emergency department with complaints that could be treated by GPs.

All eyes are on the federal government's May budget, no more so than in Dubbo.

Regular attendance at Dubbo Hospital's emergency department suggests misuse when many other options are available.

They include the Dubbo After Hours Medical Service (DAHMS) which operates on weeknights and weekends.

The weekend after-hours GP clinic at Dubbo Hospital operates between 2pm to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and is staffed by a registered nurse and a general practitioner.