Mid North Coast (NSW) RPC Project 

ABOUT THE MID NORTH COAST REGION

Population

• 104,000 people (Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca LGAs).
  

Features

• large geographic area
• the area has a significant over-65-year population, with the population growth rate for this age bracket matched only by the south coast of NSW
• Aboriginal population ratio well above the state average
• one of the largest concentrated Punjabi communities located within Australia
• favoured destination for people relocating from developing nations such as El Salvador and  Sudan.

REASONS FOR THE PROGRAM

• The area has a significant over-65-year population, with the population growth rate for this age bracket matched only by the South Coast of NSW.
• On any given day over 70 palliative care patients are registered with the PC service.
• During 2002-03 there were approximately 150 admissions to the Palliative Care Service per year with 37% of all deaths occurring at home.
• No after hours service or 1800 telephone line for after advice support and referral. After-hours management of acute medical care is uncoordinated and ad hoc.
• No coordinated GP input or participation in weekly Palliative Care Patient Review Meetings.
• Poor co-ordination of care and patients being exposed to an increased number of diagnostic procedures.
• The majority of palliative care patients requiring medical care after hours present to A&E. There is minimal capacity to extend the palliative care service to people with non-malignant diseases due to inadequate resources and lack of inter-disciplinary
  team approach to manage their care.

For further information on this project please contact: Program Coordinator on 02 6651 5774 or email: info@mncdgp.org.au