Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) residents in the surrounding areas of Newcastle can now access more tailored, timely healthcare in the comfort of their place of residence, thanks to a new Residential Aged Care (RAC) In-reach team which is now seeing patients.
The geriatric urgent care service will help ease pressure on local emergency departments by responding urgently to the medical and physical health needs of older people in RACFs for non-life-threatening conditions.
Care will be provided within the RACFs by a multidisciplinary team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, geriatricians, career medical officers and physiotherapists.
Patients are referred to the geriatric urgent care service through an established Aged Care Emergency (ACE) line. RACF calls will be answered by the RAC-In reach team intake registered nurse who will utilise decision support tools to determine the appropriate level of care for the patient. This may include telephone and videocall assessment or an on-site visit from the team.
The service is open from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week, and care provided by the In-Reach team is at no cost to the patient.
The In-reach team will cover the areas for John Hunter, Belmont, Cavalry Mater, Tomaree and Manning hospitals is being rolled out in a staged approach and is expected to be operating in all 65 RACFs in the region by 12 November 2024.
The Newcastle Residential Aged Care-In-reach forms part of the NSW Government's $124 million commitment over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"This Urgent Care Service will be enabling residents to receive high quality, expert care without leaving their familiar environment, providing a better patient experience and easing pressure on the region's busy hospitals.
"I am so pleased to see innovative models of care like this one being introduced to support patients to receive care in the most appropriate setting."
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley:
"This service will ensure aged care residents receive quality, accessible and timely medical care right where they live.
"Urgent care clinics help take pressure off our Emergency Departments and local GPs.
"Everyone deserves accessible healthcare and only the NSW Labor Government is delivering this."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington:
"The new Urgent Care Service team will deliver personalised healthcare directly to Port Stephens residents living in aged care facilities, ensuring they receive timely treatment without having to visit a hospital.
"This is a win-win for our community, improving access to urgent healthcare for our older residents and reducing pressure on Tomaree Community Hospital."
Quotes attributable to Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp:
"It's so important to support Newcastle's elderly community and this initiative will do just that. Providing the appropriate care and assistance within a familiar environment.
"We all know the pressures on our busy hospitals and this initiative will go a long way to reduce those pressures."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery:
"This will be a great program that will ensure a better-quality patient experience for aged care residents in their familiar settings while taking pressure off our public hospitals."
Quotes attributable to Executive Director Operations, Hunter New England Local Health District Susan Heyman:
"We thank the NSW Government for their support in delivering this new service that will be rolled out for our aged care communities.
"Our talented and experienced clinicians will help provide immediate assistance to determine the right level of care required."
