09/02/2024
I am very concerned by Country Health Connect (CHC) essentially disconnecting from Lucindale. Perhaps we should call them 'Country Health Dis-Connect' since they have apparently also pulled out of Tintinara and Coonalpyn recently.
Mr Ralph James purchased the building that is now Lucindale Health Centre many years ago and then donated it to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council. The whole town then came together and helped to rebuild the Centre. There is massive social capital in Lucindale, as that community demonstrates annually by holding the Lucindale Field Days.
I must admit I feel that CHC is really not trying to meet the needs of these three rural communities and is not even looking to see what their needs really are. Instead, they have brought in a rapid and potentially devastating change in access to nursing services, with no community consultation.
A 38-year history of community nursing at Lucindale is being ignored. Instead, it seems CHC now intends only to provide a few visiting services, and then by appointment only, to small towns. Those towns have little or no other services available. CHC intends to have a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to nursing scope of practice. I believe that a range of scopes of practice is desirable for rural and remote nursing services and that a broader scope of practice is needed in remote small towns than in a major hospital setting.
My very strong recommendation is that the community nursing scope of practice is something that should recognize community needs, rather than dictate service availability. I suggest that only very experienced nurses with a broad skill base (such as those who have in fact been working in Lucindale) should be chosen (and rewarded appropriately) to work in small towns where there are few other alternative services available.
When I first started visiting Lucindale in about 1998 I was astounded at how many people with serious illness presented for the first time; Naracoorte was only about 40km away yet many did not go there for health care, suffering instead at home in Lucindale. It seemed then (and I have no reason to think the situation has really changed) that as a general rule, truly close proximity to easily accessible health services is an absolutely key factor in providing good population health.
Simple rapid access is vital for simple treatments – with the patient not having to ring and book and be told to go to Naracoorte some days later for an appointment, especially if the patient (not 'consumer') has financial difficulties or transport problems.
I shall pass a link to this discussion to Minister Chris Picton and local member Nick McBride with the strong recommendation that this decision should be reviewed as I strongly believe it threatens the health and welfare of many of my patients who are elderly, infirm or disadvantaged.
Dr David Senior
Community Nursing Services provided by our Country Health Connect team at the Lucindale Health Centre have transitioned from a 'drop-in' service to an 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. This will ensure community members can access care when and where they need it.
This service will continue to offer a range of valuable nursing services to the local community including:
• Wound care, PICC line care, post-acute care such as drain management, baxter infusions and suprapubic catheter care.
• Access to a range of specialist services from visiting nurses
• Phlebotomy (blood taking) services for consumers who are unable to access a pathology collection centre
Ear syringing, ECG (electrocardiogram), removal of sutures, and point of care INR testing services are no longer available.
These services are available from other local health providers, and transport assistance may be available to some community members. Please contact our friendly team if you need help locating a service provider.
𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀. You can be referred to the clinic by a medical practitioner or you can self-refer, by calling us directly on 8762 8160 to discuss your needs before making an appointment.
