General News
20 February, 2024
New health hubs close to home
NEW rural health care hubs will open in three Loddon communities by July. The first hubs bringing nurse practitioner and allied health services “closer to home” will be in Boort and Pyramid Hill. Murray Primary Health Network says a third Loddon...
NEW rural health care hubs will open in three Loddon communities by July.
The first hubs bringing nurse practitioner and allied health services “closer to home” will be in Boort and Pyramid Hill.
Murray Primary Health Network says a third Loddon hub will be established to serve residents in the Inglewood-Wedderburn districts.
Kerang and Quambatook will also be sites for hubs to complement existing GP services.
Northern District Community Health is leading the four-year primary health initiative, with partners Murray PHN, Inglewood and Districts Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service and Boort District Health.
Murray PHN project lead Dr Nerida Hyett said this week that the original health care hub pilot had been built on the back of local co-design research and ongoing community engagement.
“In 2022, we spoke to 44 healthcare professionals and 21 healthcare consumers and carers, who told us what the communities of Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra needed,” Dr Hyett said.
“For health professionals, it was more attractive job roles that include local training and career paths and being part of a bigger health team.
“For consumers and carers, it was access to a range of different health services by a regular team of professionals, closer to home and who work closely with one another.”
The Integrated Health Network Alliance is one of six successful applicants selected from 80 submissions nationally to receive $1.4 million in funding through the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care’s innovative model of care grant program.
This week’s announcement said the new Hubs would be led by general practitioners and nurse practitioners and staffed with multi-disciplinary team members, potentially including physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, podiatrists, dieticians and mental health counsellors.
“Together, they will provide a one-stop-shop and comprehensive care for people with chronic conditions including chronic pain, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and mental illness, plus those needing palliative care.
“Hubs will provide multidisciplinary services onsite, initially starting with one day per fortnight per hub.
“Telehealth will be available to help patients access specialist appointments. Outreach services will be provided into schools, residential aged care homes and hospitals to address service gaps.”
Murray PHN CEO Matt Jones said the aim of multidisciplinary primary care models was to reduce chronic workforce shortages and improve patient access in rural locations.
“We are already learning from pilots underway and incorporating our findings into these new trials,” he said.
“Each one of them is evaluated to help us determine which models work, where they work and whether they are financially sustainable.”
Northern District Community Health interim CEO, Margaret McDonald, said it was important to find solutions for the long-term difficulties that health services were experiencing in recruiting workforce into rural environments.
“We are really excited about the prospect of Hubs, which will provide a pooled workforce, improved access to supervision and the sharing of healthcare resources between services,” she said.
“Ultimately, they are creating a more attractive employment proposition for clinicians, which can only be for the benefit of our communities.
“The trial will be evaluated and adapted each year as needed. It is anticipated that the hubs will be more financially stable by year-three and then be able to offer more clinic days.
“At the end of the four-years, an independent evaluation led by Monash University will produce high- quality evidence to support the application of hubs in similar rural regions with small, isolated communities and thin workforce markets.”
Working groups will be established through the Buloke Loddon Gannawarra Health and Wellbeing Executive Network, including North Central Local Learning and Employment Network and shire councils.
Rural Workforce Agency Victoria and university training providers including La Trobe University, Monash University and Charles Sturt University will also be part of the project service collaboration.