Leeton Health Services Project Makes Big Moves
Published on 14 October 2022
The Leeton Health Services Survey released by Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and Leeton Shire Council in August this year, received over one thousand responses from the Leeton community.
The Leeton Shire Council (LSC) and Leeton Health Services Action Committee (LHSAC), formally known as Leeton Health Services Crisis Committee, congratulate and thank the local residents for putting in the time to complete the very important survey.
As co-surveyors, Council looks forward to reviewing the community's survey results once MLHD has completed their assessment.
"Thank you to everyone that filled out the Leeton Health Services Survey. This survey response provides the collaborative input we need from our community and shows the NSW government that the Leeton community cares about our health services," said Mayor Reneker
In conjunction with other research, the survey results will now be used for two important Leeton health service projects. The MLHD Clinical Services Plan that outlines the future services delivered from Leeton Hospital and also the community and council lead Integrated Health Services Strategy Plan, a tailored health services plan that aims to close the service gaps experienced in Leeton hospital, ambulance, mental health and age care services.
“Over the years the community has repeatedly told us [council] that our basic health services are not up to scratch, and it is the community’s top priority for somethings to change,” said Mayor Reneker.
With health services in Leeton a top agenda item for Leeton Shire Council, the Integrated Health Services Strategy Plan needs to be codeveloped by LHSAC, Council, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, NSW Ambulance and the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, having regard to the community survey findings.
Council has engaged Evohealth, an experienced health services consulting company with broad knowledge and experience across health policy settings, including and codesigning health service “Models of Care” for other regions.
“This is a significant step forward for our Integrated Health Services Strategy. It will allow us to bring to light all the research and feedback we have accumulated over the past ten months, and still accumulating, and help formulate a ‘Model of Care’ that delivers a range of solutions for our community’s health care needs,” said Maryann Iannelli, LHSAC Chair.
The four-phase project facilitated by Evohealth will depend largely on the positive participation and collaboration of the three government health services agencies, MLHD, MPHN and NSWA as well as LSC. Pleasingly the Rural Doctors’ Network (RDN) is also willing to be involved.
Leeton Health Services Action Committee and the Leeton Shire Council are seeking opportunities for new models of care for Leeton Shire to be explored that will effectively deliver the range and quality of health services our community needs and deserves. This includes utilising all available health skills sets and health funds more efficiently and effectively.