Meetings in Glen Innes to discuss health service needs

Monday, 7 November 2011

Further community consultation meetings led by Hunter New England (HNE) Health were held at Glen Innes District Health Service last week to discuss future local health needs.

HNE Health’s Director of Planning and Performance Dr Sue Carter said the consultations will provide a snapshot of the health service needs and expectations of local community members.

“As part of this local consultation exercise, we are assessing the current health services in Glen Innes and the priorities of the local community, and looking at ways to ensure strong sustainable services will be maintained,” Dr Carter said.

HNE Health plans to keep community members in the loop about what is realistic and sustainable, with consideration of the resources available.

“We need to look at what we’re doing well and where we can improve,” Dr Carter said. “Then we can begin to move forward, identifying strategies to address what the current health issues are for the community.”

Dr Carter led the meetings in conjunction with Senior Health Services Planner Deborah Lawson and Glen Innes District Health Service Manager Catherine Jones.

Representatives from a wide cross-section of the community attended the meetings, including Glen Innes Severn councillors and Mayor Steve Toms, Glen Innes Aboriginal Lands Council and members of the Aboriginal community, the hospital auxiliary and community members.

The meetings follow on from consultations in early October in both Glen Innes and Inverell led by HNE Health Chief Executive Michael DiRienzo and Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay and attended by Shire councillors, health service staff, clinicians, Local Health Advisory Council members, as well as other local community members.

Similar follow-up meetings were held in Inverell last month, where key groups also came together to discuss current health service provision in Inverell and share their views on healthcare needs.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: 6767 7137