MPHN hears about health concerns in Howlong and surrounding communities

Sixteen Howlong locals took the opportunity to share their health experiences and concerns at Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network’s (MPHN) Conversations on the Couch session at the Howlong Country Bakery on Friday 28 May.

MPHN’s Planning and Reporting Manager Toni Preuss, who was in attendance on the day, said several common concerns were shared by those that attended.

“Some of the key issues raised included lack of footpaths creating challenges to get out and exercise and transport issues when people need to go to Albury for other services. Another common concern was the lack of a local ambulance service,” Ms Preuss said.

“We also heard many elderly people without access to digital devices or internet can find it hard to source information on health services as a lot is online. Many expressed appreciation for the local GP but said wait times for an appointment can be an issue.

“I’d like to thank all the community members who provided feedback on Friday. The information provided is invaluable to guiding MPHN’s understanding of community concerns and experiences and the development of the region’s Health Needs Assessment.”

Conversations on the Couch is an MPHN initiative to capture health needs and concerns of local communities across the Murrumbidgee region as part of its Health Needs Assessment.

MPHN Acting CEO Julie Redway said the organisation’s Health Needs Assessment is a three-yearly document to help identify opportunities for improving health outcomes.

“This year we are working to develop our 2022-2024 Health Needs Assessment for the Murrumbidgee region and this will guide our future activities by helping to identify gaps and needs in health and how MPHN can support these needs,” Ms Redway said.

“One of the most important ways in which we measure if we have the right services in the right places at the right time is by asking people of the Murrumbidgee to give us feedback about what they need.

“In addition to Conversations on the Couch, we also provided community members in the Local Government Areas of Greater Hume, Federation and Berrigan an opportunity to complete a survey, and we have received almost 150 responses, and I would like to thank all those who completed this survey.

“We won’t be reviewing all the data until later in the year, but we’re confident it will provide us with some rich data to help get a better picture of what is happening in health at the local level and inform our next Health Needs Assessment for the region,” she said.

To provide feedback via a survey visit www.mphn.org.au/hna and scroll down to the blue survey buttons.