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Small communities support continues for another 12 months
16 July 2008 Small rural communities have the reputation of having stoic individuals who persevere droughts, injuries and disasters. These people often, due to their rural location, have a reduced access to health services - most particularly in communities of less than 5,000 people.
In response to this need, the Regional Health Services Program (RHSP) was established in Hunter New England Health in 2004, under funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
The RHSP provides services to approximately 64 communities across the area, utilising the skills of primary health care nurses and allied health professionals like:
· Aboriginal health workers
· Social welfare officer/social workers/counsellors
· Dietitians and specialised health professionals including credentialled diabetes educators
· Drug and Alcohol workers
· Mental health nurses
· Special project officers for Aboriginal Fitness Leaders and Pit Stop programs
These staff work with community groups and individuals to ensure they get better access to health information, referral and treatment. The staff may hold regular clinics in the local hall offering blood pressure checks or wound dressings, holding information evenings on ways to combat depression, smoking or obesity and working with community groups to create sustainable programs for young people.
Regional Health Services Program Coordinator Nell Angus, said communities have enjoyed having access to local health services and we’re pleased to have received a further 12 months funding for the program.
"This is an opportunity for Hunter New England Health to develop, implement and evaluate an integrated best practice diabetes model of care for rural people, living in towns that typically do not have ready access to local doctors," M Angus said.
"The model will span the spectrum of primary health care from primary prevention (eg Aboriginal Fitness Leaders project) to secondary prevention with "at risk" groups along with screening, assessment, self management and referral.
"The next step for RHSP is to recruit people to vacant positions, look at how we can provide services and develop and implement models of care with our funded rural communities," she said.
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is conducting a national review of rural health services and its workforce. Nell said reports are due in for consideration in October.
"We’re looking forward to the findings and what they will mean for our rural towns and service development. It’s a great opportunity to take a really good look at how and why we deliver services and what can be done to improve the health outcomes for people living in our small rural and remote towns," Ms Angus said.
Contact: Kay Cope
Phone: 6776 9817
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