Gippsland Primary Health Network’s (PHN) has released new research that highlight Gippsland’s health needs and opportunities to improve access to care in the region.
The Health Insights papers – Health Needs in Gippsland and Building Health Equity – present a snapshot of Gippsland’s needs, as well as revealing key themes around what’s important to people in Gippsland.
The data is part of a 2024 Health Needs Assessment that provides an opportunity for priority populations in Gippsland to share their stories. The Health Needs Assessment, which will be released this year,
will inform Gippsland PHN’s work and help drive a measurably healthier Gippsland.
The data showed:
– Avoidable deaths from cancer are higher in Gippsland than in Victoria (34 per 100,000 population compared to 28)
– Gippsland life expectancy was the second-lowest in Victoria, at 80.9 years (compared to 83.5 year in Victoria)
– About 7000 people in Gippsland live with dementia, which is the second leading cause of death in the region
– More than half of adults in Gippsland drink alcohol at levels likely to cause injury
– 15 per cent of children under 16 years old live in a low income or welfare-dependent family, compared to 11 per cent across Victoria.
Key themes that emerged from the consultation included:
– People value continuity of care with trusted clinicians, and are more likely to seek care and see the value in healthcare if they don’t feel judged.
– Participants highlighted challenges accessing appropriate care. Childhood experiences and trauma have a significant impact on people’s mental health, and early interventions are important.
– Cost of accessing services, as well as geographic and transport challenges were major barriers to accessing GPs, specialist care and allied health, leading to delays in seeking care, or inability to access care.
– System-wide workforce shortages and long wait times impact people’s ability to access care in Gippsland.
– Participants emphasised that health is often shaped by social and economic
factors, including financial struggles,
exposure to family violence, housing and homelessness, and loneliness and social isolation.
– The research highlighted gaps in people’s digital literacy, along with language barriers.
Gippsland PHN acting chief executive officer Angela Jacob said the Health Insights papers provided valuable data about health and wellbeing in Gippsland, and would inform service commissioning for the Gippsland community.
“This consultation process has given us the opportunity to hear people’s lived
experiences, which helps us to drive
programs and activities that improve health and wellbeing in Gippsland,” Ms Jacob said.
“The data showed that investment in
primary health in Gippsland is critical in helping improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
Gippsland PHN plays a key role in delivering health services to the Gippsland community, by commissioning local providers to deliver programs and services that respond specifically to local needs.
