Better health for bush residents

A strong two-part plan to confront the challenges of delivering quality health care for families in rural and remote Queensland has been launched by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg, delivering on the Government’s election promise to revitalise frontline services.

Mr Springborg said the plan cleared the way for improved local health services through co-ordinated on-site delivery, the widespread use of telehealth and new technology and a workforce with new skills.

“Families in the bush should not have second rate health care as they experienced under Labor,” Mr Springborg said.

“We want mums, dads and children to have the right medical attention when they need it and ‘Better Health for the Bush’ shows our commitment to improving outcomes.

“It is the result of a collaborative partnership with frontline clinicians to inform small communities of developments in the healthcare services, providers and modes of access available to them.

“The need for access to specialist healthcare is shared by all Queenslanders, including those far beyond our major cities.

“Through flexible, innovative models of care, we can extend the support provided by our rural and remote health services and improve equity for patients, no matter where they live.”

“This plan has been drawn up by the State-wide Rural and Remote Clinical Network and published for community consumption by Queensland Health.

“It complements the Department’s Queensland rural and remote health service framework which classifies rural and remote health facilities and describes the services they provide.

“Together, these documents enable people in remote communities to understand current trends in health planning, make full use of services and support health delivery through our state-wide network of hospital and health service boards.

“Building support for future planning, devolved control and community feedback is vital to meeting the healthcare requirements in communities of all shapes and sizes.

Mr Springborg said ‘Better Health for the Bush’ looked at ways to support frontline services through improving accessibility to complex and complicated healthcare and infrastructure.

“One way of doing this is by expanding the use of telehealth, which makes it possible for specialist advice to be streamed directly to the emergency rooms of small rural facilities, driving better patient outcomes,” he said.

State-wide Rural and Remote Clinical Network chair, Theodore GP, Dr Bruce Chater, said increased support for clinicians at small hospitals would allow them to provide  more complex care.

“Patients benefit by having access to renal dialysis, chemotherapy, mental health or surgical and anaesthetic services closer to home,” Mr Chater said.

“We are planning and delivering new ways to provide these services in a safe and appropriate manner.”

“The planned introduction of allied health professionals and the further expansion of the rural generalist program will also support frontline staff.”

Mr Springborg acknowledged that health conditions such as major trauma and serious illnesses would still require treatment in an urban or regional centre.

“For the majority of illnesses, patients can be safely treated in their own community,” he said.

The Health Minister thanked Dr Chater and members of the SRRCN for their efforts in support of ‘Better Health for the Bush’

[ENDS] 6 June 2014

Media Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230