Impact grants awarded to Northern NSW health services

HEALTHY North Coast has announced the successful recipients of its innovative Primary Care Impact Grants, which support high-quality care for people with chronic diseases across the region.

The first-round funding for general practices and other providers in the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW totals $897,420, which will test and scale creative solutions to current healthcare challenges.

Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler said the response to the initiative has shown the depth of commitment across general practice and allied health services to improving care.

“Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in Australia, but we know that nearly 40 per cent of this burden could be prevented by early intervention and addressing risk factors,” Wheeler said.

“GPs, nurses and allied health practitioners delivering care every day across our region are well placed to see where change is needed. These grants are about equipping those frontline providers with funding to test new approaches that reduce the impact of chronic diseases.”

Multidisciplinary Team Care Grants included $65,040 for Dunoon General Practice and $50,000 to the Health Lodge Integrated Medical Centre.

Chronic Disease Prevention Grants included $29,500 for a prevention-focused chronic disease program at Kennedy Drive Medical Centre, Tweed Heads; $30,000 to a nurse-led clinic addressing chronic disease and cancer risk at Prema House, Lismore; and $50,000 for OneBridge Ballina’s nurse-led chronic disease prevention and management program.

About $3.4 million in total funding is available for the coming year, with future rounds to follow, including $1.8 million through the MyMedicare Multidisciplinary Teams initiative and $1.6 million through the Primary Health Network program funding, to support the management of complex and chronic diseases in high-risk populations.

“These are grassroots innovations with the potential for big impact,” Wheeler said.

For more information on applying for future rounds, visit hnc.org.au .