Health Service Plan, but still five to ten years away.

Whilst discussions relating to a future complete redevelopment of the Tumut hospital captured most attention amongst those attending Tuesday evening's public meeting, much of the presentation from . GSAHS was spent updating the community on work that has been done since the development of a Tumut Health Service Plan six months ago.

Reference was made to the expenditure of $250,000 on works due for completion late next month on improving security and access across the hospital site, under the rural health minor works program "Keep Safe & Operating"

The meeting, held at the RSL Club, was also informed of plans to reconvene the community-based Maternity Group which met several years ago with a view to seeking feedback from parents to identify effects of the relocation of the maternity services back into the main hospital complex from Sheahan House, and to examine options to address any adverse effects. This will also assist in the establishment of a 'standard' for a new hospital complex.

The meeting heard of improvements to the workforce with the employment of a new drug and alcohol worker, diabetes educator, physiotherapist, dietician and an occupational therapist who will work on a falls prevent program.

It was also told consultations had commenced with area clinicians and chronic complex and palliative care co-ordinators to develop appropriate models of care for cardiac, pulmonary, chronic illness and palliative care.

The Division of GPs had a new Primary Health Care nurse and discharge planning meetings had been in effect for some four months to ensure a co-ordinated and appropriate delivery of service to clients leaving hospital.

It was also informed "public" ultrasound diagnostic equipment and bulk billing had just been purchased for Wagga as distinct from "private" ultrasound services only previously available. regionally from Calvary or Riverina Imaging.

The following were some of the other actions taken over the past six months, as related to Tuesday's meeting by Tumut Health Service Manager Mary Smit, and Community Health manager Ellen Hannigan:

• Moves to attract additional GPs, proceduralists, obstetricians and anaesthetists had seen three new Registrars this year, one new GP, two local GPs had indicated an interest in anaesthetics, a staff specialist anaesthetist Dr Killen from Wagga Base was providing VMO (visiting medical officer) services, and two GP/obstetricians were providing VMO services.

• A diabetes resource nurse had been appointed in May and had begun seeing clients.

• Managers were excited about the possibilities for the establishment of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs following discussions with co-ordinators from, Wagga in relation to a tailor made program for the area's residents. This would also involve community nurses, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietician, speech pathologist and the psychologist. Specific needs for training in chronic disease management would be addressed in planning the programs.

• Activities to promote health ageing included the appointment of an Area Falls co-ordinator, whilst allied health staff including the occupational therapist, physiotherapist and dietician would work together to address issues such as poor nutrition, inadequate physical activity and environmental hazards. The occupational therapist met community members every Wednesday morning for a slow to moderate self paced walk around the parklands.

• Work was taking place on a GSAHS web page which when completed would be linked with the Tumut Shire Council's web-site.

• A mental health first-aid course had been conducted to provide information to the community on depression and mental health issues, and it was intended to revisit the development of a mental health interagency group after certain mental health training was held in July. "Blossom" an empowerment group for women had been conducted twice, with a third group planned for Spring this year.

• A new drug and alcohol worker had commenced in April, and a successful SCUDAT project conducted last year with the Tumut Bulls would be repeated with other sporting teams.

• The Tumut Schools as Community Centres project (SACC) had seen a building completed and operational at Franklin School, and a project co-ordinator appointed. It was proposed to provide appropriate community health services at the Centre.

• An Aboriginal health worker had been visiting schools screening aboriginal children for mediaotitis, a new dietician had been talking to children and parents on "healthy eating" and child and family nurses had been immunising children.

• Training for an integrated perinatal program to screen pregnant women and assist them access appropriate services had been completed, and roll-out was anticipated within 12 months. Child and family nurses were home-visiting every new mother and people without transport or deemed at risk followed up. Clinics had been re-established at Batlow and Adelong to ensure older children's needs were being met.

• Training for all health service staff regarding Aboriginal cultural awareness was scheduled for next month.

• A new dental health service on the hospital site would be included as part of the facility review.

• Opportunities to enhance health-related transport were currently being investigated by the GSAHS transport logistics officer, and liaison would be undertaken with the Tumut Shire Council following its recent survey.

Model for other towns

Tumut Health Service Advisory Committee chairman Allan Tonkin said the Service Plan process had put Tumut ahead of many other towns, and the information being collected and the programs being introduced would stand the district in good stead.

"Once we get the green light for a new health facility the project should be expedited because of what has been done over the past 12 months and what will continue to be done in the interim," he said.

The manager of service and corporate planning with GSAHS, Janet Chapman, said the implementation of the Service Plan was proving very beneficial and GSAHS would continue to report back to the community.

"It is a model we will be able to use in other areas," she said, adding she had been impressed by the level of understanding of health issues and planning amongst those in attendance who had provided comments or asked questions.

"We have a number of new programs underway and new services and a key component in the short and medium term is to ensure we keep surgery and maternity at the site.

"We all know in the longer term there needs to be an overall development given the existing hospital building is inadequate and we need to work through the process of the Service Plan, facility review and full asset audit as part of that goal."

The Tumut Health Service Advisory Committee will continue to meet bi-monthly and monitor progress of the recommendations within the Service Plan.

June 2, 2006

Tumut & Adelong Times