MPHN hears about health concerns in Jerilderie and surrounding communities

Seventeen Jerilderie 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 Jerilderie Bakery on Thursday 17 June.

MPHN’s Planning and Reporting Manager Toni Preuss, who was in attendance on the day, said those who attended provided many valuable insights into the current health needs of the community.

“Some of the key concerns raised included the lack of a dedicated women’s health nurse, limited options for community transport to gain access to medical services and a lack of local services such as radiography. COVID-19 continues to be a primary concern for community members who access services in Victoria,” Ms Preuss said.

“We also heard many people express their appreciation for the local GP, local aged care services and community nurses.

“I’d like to thank all the community members who provided feedback during the event. 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 Murray River, Edward River and Murrumbidgee an opportunity to complete a survey and I would like to thank all those who took the time to participate.

“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.