The healthcare professionals were invited to lunch or dinner workshops in Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay to review the activities recently approved by the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) and to give feedback.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said the organisation’s population health priorities area supported older Australians to lead healthier, more productive, and connected lives through a population health approach.

“NQPHN has commenced key activities to improve outcomes and access to aged and palliative care services within our region,” she said.

The workshops covered six priority areas of aged care – navigation (Care Finder), telehealth use and after-hours plans in RACFs, an older persons’ early intervention and chronic disease framework, Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care, and clinical HealthPathways to support aged care and dementia which will be led by Hospital and Health Services’ (HHS) HealthPathways teams.

NQPHN’s Operations Director – Health System Integration and Innovation Janine Cox delivered the presentations at the workshops which were attended by more than 60 people in Cairns, about 40 in Mackay, and more than 50 in Townsville.

People who were unable to attend in person can attend two sessions online for free. One is for older community members and their families and carers on October 11 and another on October 13 for aged care workers, GPs, nurses, palliative care workers and RACF workers. Go to www.nqphn.com.au/events

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) Older Persons Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Clinical Director Dr Edward Strivens spoke about his role and that of the CHHHS in aged care and dementia at the Cairns event. 

Guest speakers in Townsville were Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) Nurse Practitioner Candidate with the Frailty Intervention Team Beth Roche, who gave a presentation about her experience in acute psychogeriatrics and geriatric rehabilitation, while Townsville GP and Health Pathways Clinical Editor Dr Wai Lee talked about complex care, from cradle to the grave GP care, palliative care, and improving health systems.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service​ (MHHS) General Practice Liaison Officer Caroline Giles spoke at the Mackay session about her role and that of the GP liaison unit team, supporting HealthPathways, as well as Smart Referrals and working with GPs to problem solve and address issues or concerns between the hospital and primary healthcare.​

Ms Whyte said the aim of telehealth in RACFs was to increase the availability and use of telehealth care for aged care residents.

“NQPHN will commission a technology and infrastructure audit of all participating RACFs across the region, provide either hardware or grants to improve access for residents to virtual primary care, provide training to RACF staff, and encourage increased use of My Health Record in RACFs,” said Ms Whyte.

“NQPHN will provide guidance to assist RACFs with training their staff to implement after-hours plans and encourage RACFs to keep residents’ digital medical records up-to-date, especially for after-hours episodes.

“NQPHN is ensuring North Queenslanders live happier, healthier, longer lives through effective prevention and management of chronic conditions, especially diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by targeting priority populations, including older people and carers and families of people living with chronic conditions.

“We are aiming to increase the awareness of, and facilitate and coordinate access to, safe and quality palliative and end-of-life care at home.”

Ms Whyte said the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care project included mapping existing palliative care services and networks, using data to identify regional needs, highlight gaps, target cohorts, and priority activities, and developing links to education and training for palliative care workers.

“NQPHN will develop aged care and dementia referral pathways, where they don’t currently exist, for use by clinicians during consultations with patients, as well as identify gaps and opportunities in the model of care for people living with dementia, and develop localised consumer resources for older people, their families, and carers.

“Care Finder Services (Aged Care Navigator program) will start from January 2023 to provide specialist and intensive assistance to help people within the Care Finder target population to understand access to aged care services.”

Other aspects included targeting the Care Finder population, supporting Assistance with Care and Housing (ACH) providers with transitioning to Care Finder organisations and leading a Care Finder Provider Community of Practice.

Workshop participants were asked for their feedback which will be analysed for a later update.