Long term health plan a big win for regional areas
MENTAL health is to be recognised on the same level as broken bones, according to Australia’s Longterm National Health Plan.
To help remove the stigma surrounding depression, anxiety, bipolar and psychosis, Primary Health Networks will receive $1.45 billion over three years to plan and commission mental health services at a regional level.
The strong focus on mental wellbeing has been welcomed by country-focused not-for-profit organisation, Marathon Health, which is the largest national provider of Headspace services.
Marathon Health’s Executive of Governance, Bryan Hoolahan, said the Government’s Long-term National Health Plan is a big win for regional mental healthcare.
“In the last Financial Year, we’ve supported over 4000 young people through our headspace services and there is continual pressure to provide support to younger children,” Mr Hoolahan said.
“I look forward to seeing more detail on how this strategy will be implemented for regional and rural communities.”
The plan also promised to address the issues country communities face in finding and retaining medical staff, pledging to send 3000 doctors, 3000 nurses and hundreds of allied health professionals to regions in need.
Other areas of focus include preventative health programs for cancer, particularly breast, bowel and cervical, as well as prevention of chronic disease, such as diabetes. IT’S been a busy and exhausting week for local police, one instance of extreme physical exertion caused when officers last Saturday morning, August 17, saw a 34-year-old man walking along Lunar Avenue.
The man was wanted for taking and driving a stolen vehicle and traffic offences and he bolted through several yards before being detained.
Police allege he broke free and ran, only arrested after a struggle at a Braun Avenue address where a search of the premises allegedly uncovered housebreaking implements and a quantity of crystal substance.
He was arrested and taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for precautionary measures before being released into police custody and charged.
In a separate incident, police were patrolling South Dubbo last Saturday night because of a large number of break-ins in recent times and allege they saw a 51-year-old man acting suspiciously near a parked vehicle on Jubilee Street.
They stopped and spoke to the man, with observations giving them reasonable cause to search the man, finding a screwdriver, torch and a wallet believed to be the proceeds of crime.
He was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station where he was charged with possess implements to enter/drive conveyance, goods in custody, possess prohibited drug, commit indictable offence having previous been convicted of the same.
He was refused bail.