THE Wanneroo community will benefit from a new service designed to provide effective treatment support for people with long-term health conditions, who also live with mental health conditions, or alcohol and other substance use dependencies.
The service, funded by WA Primary Health Alliance and provided by Silverchain, started in January and is available through participating general practices in Wanneroo.
It aims to improve planned, culturally safe care and support by connecting individuals to appropriate community mental health and alcohol and other substance use services.
This targeted care plan support and coordination service will integrate with local community health services and is informed by primary health data and consultation with local general practices and other health services, community members and interested organisations.
The service will address the barriers for those individuals who find it difficult to get access to care and keep their health on track, while empowering them to self-manage their health and quality of life, reaching goals set out in their GP developed self-management plans.
WA Primary Health Alliance commissioned services general manager Mark Cockayne said using population health data had allowed them to target the new service to where it would have the most impact.
Mr Cockayne said they were pleased so many local general practices had come on board.
“It will help people with long term health conditions and complex care needs to remain independent in the community and stay out of the hospital system,’’ he said.
“This is especially important for people living with mental health, alcohol, or other substance use challenges, who often require additional supports within the community.”
Silverchain Western Australia executive director Renae Lavell said Silverchain had a strong track record of providing complex chronic disease management and support services to Western Australians who live with chronic health conditions.
“This service will work closely with individuals in the community to get to know them, their concerns and help remove the barriers that prevent them from accessing help and care,’’ she said.
The free service will support eligible people to help make and keep appointments (including arranging transport), understand any health advice that they have received, access mental health and/or alcohol and other substance use support services, find other health care options if they are getting stuck or are waiting too long for services and access community-based social supports like financial, relationship and grief counselling services.
To access this service for yourself or a loved one, speak to your GP in the Wanneroo region to see if they are participating in the service and can provide a referral.
If you have questions, call Silverchain on 1300 300 122 and ask to speak to the care planning and coordination services case coordinator.
