NCN Health Community Newsletter Spring 2023

COMMUNITY

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

CAPITAL WORKS

Tenders for consultants, architects and engineers has commenced for the development of the new Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge.

This team will commence the project planning and will continue throughout 2024. $54.3 million was committed to the project from the Victorian Government, which is coordinated by The Victorian Health Board Authority (VHBA) and the Department of Health in partnership with NCN Health. Construction of the new building will start in 2025

The Cobram Urgent Care Centre redevelopment is taking shape, the concrete slab was poured early June, steel fabrication is up and framework of the internal walls nearly complete.

The project is on track to see part of the new Urgent Care Centre open by late December with the final completion date for the first quarter of 2024

A reminder that access to urgent care, acute ward, ultrasound and x-ray remains unchanged and is still via the main entrance

BOARD DIRECTORS

In June we celebrated the reappointment of Board Chair Tricia Quibell and Board Director and former Chair Clinical Governance Alicia Cunningham to continue as NCN Health Board Directors. We also warmly welcome Peter Guy and Brant Doyle on their appointment to the NCN Health Board effective 1 July 2023. The Board of Directors play an integral role in guiding the organisation's strategic direction and fulfilling our purpose and mission to provide exceptional healthcare services. We are excited to work with the Board of Directors in 2023 and beyond.

WELCOME

We congratulate Sophie Scott who has accepted the role of NCN Health Numurkah campus Director Clinical Services, Sophie was previously in the Acute Ward Nurse Unit Manager.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

July 1st marks 4 years since Nathalia, Cobram and Numurkah Health services amalgamated to create NCN Health It has been a period of significant internal change and many external challenges.

Our success is underpinned by the efforts and the dedication of our staff in each area of the health service and the support

from our stakeholders, volunteers and broader community.

Thank you and we look forward to a successful year ahead, working together for healthier, happier communities.

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Community Health and Wellbeing has been restructured to align programs and services across NCN Health. The department has been divided into two separate streams with Kim Fitzgerald moving to Director Primary Health and Community Aged Care and Robyn Sprunt is Director Integrated Community Health. The restructure enables NCN Health to respond to Commonwealth and State Government health reform and meet current and emerging community health needs.

I acknowledge our staff for their valuable contribution during the consultative phase of the process and willingness to embrace change to ensure our clients can access care close to home and achieve optimal health outcomes

Enjoy Spring!

JACQUE PHILLIPS Chief Executive Officer

COVID-19 UPDATE

Rapid Antigen Testing of visitors to the hospital and aged care facilities remains in place.

Mask wearing is recommended for visitors to all areas of the health service.

Staff are required to Rapid Antigen Test if they develop symptoms. Staff who have been exposed to a positive COVID case are assessed and put on a high-risk infection control plan for 7 days from the time of exposure. This means they continue working, however they must test daily and wear additional PPE.

Staff are not to come to work if they have any newly developed respiratory symptoms even if they have a negative Rapid Antigen Test. Community members are asked not to visit patients or residents if they feel unwell, even if they test negative to COVID-19.

X-Ray and Ultrasound

The end of June marks one year since NCN Health took over the running of our XRay and Ultrasound services in Cobram and Numurkah. This service was previously run by an external company with appointments taken by a centralised number.

Now, our reception staff are responsible for scheduling bookings and managing all customer service. The service is local, reliable and runs very smoothly and efficiently. It was a significant task to bring the service under our management, a big congratulations and thank you to the leadership team, Board of Directors, receptionist and our valued sonographers.

To book an appointment contact Cobram or Numurkah reception.

Cobram: 03 5871 0777

Numurkah: 03 5862 0555

Volunteer or Work at NCN Health

Student Volunteer - Brianna Boyden

Student Volunteer Week was August 7-13. NCN Health is blessed to have student volunteer Bri with us at NPML. We sat down with Bri to find out why she enjoys volunteering at NCN Health.

How long have you volunteered at NCN Health for?

1 Year and 3 months

What drew you to volunteering?

I don’t have grandparents here so I wanted to connect with the older generation. What is your favourite things about volunteering?

Talking and playing games with the elderly people.

What part of the Health Service do you volunteer in?

Activities at Numurkah Pioneers

Memorial Lodge

Do you want to tell us anything else about volunteering with NCN Health? It has helped my confident a lot, I look forward to it every week.

Current opportunities

Quality Coordinator - Part Time, Cobram

As a member of the Quality, Risk and Performance Team, the Quality Coordinator role is important in providing oversight and assistance in relation to meeting accreditation standards and maintaining a high standards of patient safety.

Operations Admin Officer - Part Time, Nathalia

This Operations Officer is a position responsible for providing administrative support to the Operations Department at NCN Health. The job will be based in Nathalia, however involve working across all NCN Campuses. The Operations Department consists of Contracts/Procurement, Food Services, Environmental Services, Maintenance, Supply, Information Communication Technology across all campuses of NCN Health.

Exercise Physiologist - Part Time, NCN Health

The Exercise Physiologist works as part of the multidisciplinary Allied Health and Chronic Disease team at NCN Health, providing quality, client focused exercise physiology services and programs for individuals and groups across the organisation including our Integrated Community Health unit, Residential Aged Care facilities and the Moira Community Rehabilitation Centre.

Health Care Worker - Part Time, Numurkah

NCN Health have an exciting opportunity for a Health Care Worker to join our team in Pioneers Lodge at Numurkah. The role of the Health Care Worker is to maintain daily care needs for residents and attend to necessary documentation.

NCN HEALTH

Nathalia gym

Opening Hours:

Monday & Wednesday - 10 am - 6pm Thursday - 8am - 1:30pm

Teen Fitness 45

When: Monday & Wednesday 4 - 4:45pm

Age: 14-17 Years

Cost: $5 student concession C & S Training

When: Monday & Wednesday 10 - 10:45am

Age: 18 + Cost: $5 concession or $10

Classes run by a qualified Personal Trainer

Fill out the self referral form found here prior to your first visit.

Out and About

Community Reading Days

On August 24 NCN Health held a Community Reading Day in Numurkah.

We were lucky to get a beautiful day. with a fabulous assortment of businesses and heaps of smiling kids.

Special Thanks to the following Numurkah Businesses:

Ritchies IGA

Commonwealth Bank

Takeaway on Melville

Stones Numurkah Guradian Pharmacy

Bendigo Bank

Brennans Vet Services

Numurkah Library

Maurice McNamara Real Estate

Little Bag of Magic

Gagliardi Scott Real Estate

Numurkah Newsagency

Chemist Discount Centre

Numurkah Leader

Numurkah Furniture and Bedding

Goulburn Murray Credit Union

Flow Speech Pathology

Numurkah Home Hardware

Flowers on Melville

Numurkah Bakery and Cafe

Numurkah Community Learning Centre

Community Reading Day in Cobram was on September 4.

Another beautiful morning and over 200 children participating in the reading day.

Special Thanks to the following Cobram Businesses:

Noonan’s Jewellers

Mivo Park

Family Care

Cobram Library

Maternal Child Health Centre

Moira Shire Council

Cobram Community House

NCN Health Cobram Dental Clinic

Community Reading Day in Nathalia was on September 6.

It was great to get out and about in Nathalia, the children loved moving around and meeting some local business owners.

Special Thanks to the following Nathalia Businesses: Milking It Cafe

Breretons Bakery

Nathalia Library

NAIDOC Week at Federation Park, Cobram

On July 13 NCN Health and Many Mobs Indigenous Coorperation held a NAIDOC Week celebration at Federation Park in Cobram. Students from the local schools joined the event where they learnt about culture, history and celebrated our local elders.

Women’s Winter Social

On July 28, 65 local women attended the Telegraph Hotel in Numurkah for a relaxing night out with live music and good food.

The very talented Liv Cartledge entertained us throughout the night with her stunning vocals & guitar, as well as making us laugh with her delightfully witty songs about some of us!

There were stacks of locally sourced gifts given away, all to help us treat ourselves with more love, and useful information handed out to anyone looking for extra support.

It was a fun evening, surrounded by kind-hearted, strong women. We thank every single one of you who joined us!

NATHALIA ART

Have you spotted the recent addition of a Koala sculpture at the front of the campus?

Vic and Joan Dohnt have generously donated a Koala sculpture to accompany the Emu and Kangaroo that they donated last year.

All three sculptures were created by Shepparton local - Mark Niglia and are created from recycled steel reinforcements

Bridie Knight Kinder visit Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge

Children from Bridie Knight Kinder recently visited the Lodge, they spent the day talking with residents, playing games, doing arts and crafts and playing music.

Happy Birthday Celebrations

Residents, staff, Auxiliary members, family and friends gathered at the Lodge recently to mark the building’s 47th ‘birthday’, which falls on August 27th. Staff and Auxiliary members presented a history of the Lodge and entertained the crowd with an old time skit, featuring a radio presenter, farmer motorist and character by the name of Madame Dillwater. Afternoon tea prepared by the Auxiliary was enjoyed by all. A great event to celebrate 47 years of residential aged care and community connection in Numurkah.

Photos

Old time radio on show: Auxiliary President Rosemary Kennett, Diversional Therapist/EN John Shrimpton, Auxiliary members Margaret Caccianiga and Elizabeth Rees.

Cut the Cake: Betty Major and John Scott

Enjoying the Show: Nancy Retallick, Zdena Cykner.

Numurkah Primary deliver 1000 Hearts to Pioneer Lodge

Numurkah Primary school visited Numurkah Pioneer Memorial Lodge recently to deliver 1000 hearts to the residents.

The students created these as part of art studies and visited the lodge to hand them out to the residents, visit for the morning and provide some company. The students also performed some songs.

Karinya Nursing Home News

We are pleased to announce that Wyndham House Clinic has taken over the medical care of the Residents in Karinya Aged Care as of July 24. The lead GP managing Karinya Residents will be Dr Ahmed Rajeed. Wyndham House Clinic also has a dedicated Aged Care Nurse, Jacinta Kennedy, supporting the GP role who will provide additional support to the residents of Karinya.

Cup Cake Day

A lovely day baking with the residents recently and some little hands attended to help ice the cupcakes and taste the results!

Nathalia in Bloom

Daffodils in flower to brighten up the garden for residents of Banawah at NCN Health

Nathalia

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Staff Stories

In June Cobram Dental Clinic Manager Steph Veal was fortunate to be a recipient of the Colin Riley Scholarship 10-day study tour with Dental Health Services Victoria Team to the Kingdom of Tonga. Steph has written about her trip to share some insights into her experiences.

This scholarship facilitated a tour in the South Pacific with the key objectives to explore opportunities for DHSV to partner with the Tonga Ministry of Health Dental Clinic based at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa Liz (fellow recipient) and I also undertook a range of activities including networking, visiting schools, attending dinners, setting up a dental van and engaging with dental clinic staff

DHSV had donated a fully equipped dental van as well as $10,000 worth of instruments and consumables to set up the van This will be used to take dental care to wherever it is needed, whether that be remote villages, schools or outlying health clinics that do not have dental services

The dental van was commissioned in an opening ceremony by the Minister of Health for Tonga and Vaiola Hospital dental staff

Part of my role was to prepare and train staff to use this dental truck, as well as stocking, organising and doing odd repairs to the truck that were required after its long international journey.

I also had the opportunity to join in with the departments Mali Mali Health Promotion program, visiting schools to provide a oral health program to the children. The children were very excited to have Australian visitors and receive a special Victorian Smile Squad sticker for their excellent brushing efforts.

During our stay we invited to be part of many feasts and able to network and discuss DHSV future support to Tonga with dignitaries including the Minister of Health and the Prime Minister, and even meet the Prince and Princesses of the Royal Family.

During our very busy stay we did manage to find some time for recreation activities, touring the Island to sightsee, swim in underground caves and day trip to the beautiful outlying Island of Pangaimotu

This was an incredibly rewarding experience and I’m very grateful for the opportunity from DHSV and also the support from NCN Health to allow me to attend

FAREWELL GAIL GRINTER.

Gail recently retired from an incredibly rewarding and long career in nursing

Gail Grinter (nee Baker) began her nursing training at the Warragul Hospital in 1975 at 18 years old, straight after finishing school. All the training nurses were required to live at the hospital under a matron for the duration of their training. The matron was very strict in those days. If the girls went out, they had to be back in by 11pm or they would be locked out & have to go to the head matron to be let back in. Girls would sneak out the windows and cover for each other. Men were forbidden in the nurse’s quarters and cottages. Gail’s brother Max was smuggled in one day for a shower on his way to a concert. Another day Gail’s father, Max senior, was smuggled in so he could carry a television into the cottage Gail was living in.

Gail spent 3 years training in Warragul. Graduation was a big celebration. Wearing the veil was very prestigious. She then worked in theatre at the Mooroopna Hospital (was Goulburn Valley Base back then) She was considered a very capable nurse by the surgeons, especially Dr Ferguson who wanted her to assist him when he went to Africa She lived at Rushworth house behind the hospital where she met a friend Louis The first time they met, they decided to travel the world together, which they did including a stint working in the Leukemia ward of the Hammersmith hospital in England

Gail returned to nursing in Shepparton then completed 12 months of midwifery training at the Queen Vic Hospital in Melbourne Again Gail lived on site with the other nurses and a strict matron

Gail returned to the GV, working in Kyabram then finally starting at Numurkah hospital in 1983 after she got married Gail worked in theatre, general ward and as a midwife while they still had babies born at the hospital There were about 60-80 babies born each year, and Gail was there to help deliver many of them During one big theatre operation, the surgeon needed Gail to use the suction and it would not work Everyone was rushing about trying to figure out what was wrong, when Gail eventually realised she was standing on the suction hose! Most recently she worked as the solo community midwife handling the pre and post-natal care of local mothers & babies. Gail ran antenatal classes for many years in the evenings and was renowned for her humorous take on the material.

It would give Gail great joy to see the mothers and babies down the street whom she assisted. There were a few who she assisted with their birth and then when the babies were having their own babies. Gail infamously announced at a family Christmas to everyone that she had seen a niece’s new boyfriend naked…when he was born of course!

Gail was very devoted to the community midwife job. Late nights finishing paperwork after several home visits to new mums was a norm. Those close saw the extent of Gail’s concern for her patients and maintaining the services offered from the Numurkah Hospital. She has cared for her patients young and old with care and compassion and made a wonderful career as a nurse. Like most nurses, she has quite the sense of humour (I guess they have to) and has made many special friends of her colleagues. Gail officially retired after 48 years nursing, 40 of those at Numurkah. We thank Gail for her incredible contribution.

Your Opinion Matters

NCN Health Nathalia - July 2023

"Staff are amazing, they make you feel welcome and are approachable every shift. Amazing hospital, well done to you all."

Graduate Nurse

"To all the wonderful Nursing staff, thank you so much for the wonderful, amazing care you gave me. You are all fantastic!"

Acute Ward

Opportunities to improve...

"The nurse was very helpful and saved us a trip to Shepparton."

Urgent Care

"Love the exercise classes!"

"The doctor, nurse and staff were all excellent."

Urgent Care

Treatment & diagnosis Abrupt treatment

Your Opinion Matters

NCN Health Cobram - July 2023

"Extremely happy with all the services here at Irvin House."

"The best part of my experience was learning to manage my condition and how to exercise to maintain my health. Sharon & Gurveen were fantastic - very caring and respectful."

Physiotherapy

"I can't thank the nursing management and nurses enough, they would make any CEO very proud of such a wonderful team. Special mention to Elaine who's Irish eyes are always smiling. Also best meals of any public hospital, thank you so much to all, you will always be in my hearts."

Acute Ward

"Thank you for the loving care I have received from all the staff, I feel like I have gained an extra family "

Acute Ward

"It is so nice to arrive at work on Friday in my fun scrubs and brighten patient and family’s day. The bright colours always spark a conversation! I look forward to seeing more staff members jump on board."

Acute Ward

"Amazing service." Counselling

"Karen made everything so easy. She had great communication and nothing was too much for her " Administration

"Thank you for all the care and love you have shown to mum over the years. We greatly appreciated it."

Irvin House

"Dawn made me feel at ease and has the most wonderful bed side manner. She was so calming and explained all her steps. Couldn't have asked for better treatment."

Urgent Care

Your Opinion Matters

NCN Health Numurkah - July 2023

"Excellent treatment, the staff at the hospital were wonderful and professional."

Urgent Care

"Empathetic, non judgmental and supportive approach by the Dietitian. This has encouraged me to continue with the program

Opportunities to improve...

"The Nurse Hayley was wonderful and explained all to me. Dr Pascal the VVED doctor was also very nice."

Urgent Care

"A big thank you to the kitchen staff for the great job they did with our Xmas in July lunch time meal."

Pioneers Lodge

Bus suitability

"Siya was exceptional in the way she went about seeing me."

"Thanking you all.""Sheryl was great, very caring and patient. Her "Service was quick by the triage bedside manners are nurse and not too bad waiting for

"Thank you for allowing me to complete my work experience with your team. The week was an incredible learning experience and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented and supportive team."

Community Health & Wellbeing

Lighting along front footpath

"Good experience, clear & understanding advice."

Podiatry

FREEGROUPSESSIONSFORPARENTS-NUTRITIONANDPLAY

TheINFANTprogram(InfantFeeding,ActiveplayandNuTrition) isdesignedtohelpparentsandfamilieswithhealthyeatingand activeplayfromthestartoftheirbaby’slife.

INFANTconsistsoffourgroupsessionsfor parents/caregiversledbyanurseorhealth professional.Eachsessionisbasedonbabies needsaroundtheagesof3,6,9and12 months.

INFANTpromoteshealthyeating, increasedactiveplayandreduced screentimeforbabiesfrombirth until2yearsofage.

Parentshavecomeawayfrom sessionsfeelingmoreconfident knowingwhatbabyneedsateach stage,andthey'vemadenew friendswithotherparentsand babies.

SessionsareheldacrossCobram, NumurkahandYarrawonga.

Tofindoutmoreorbookin,scan theQRcodeorcontact mch@moira.vic.gov.au

Capital Works Updates

COBRAM UCC

Cobram UCC is progressing quickly.

The Urgent Care Centre Redevelopment includes a new entrance to urgent care, updated facilities, increased floor space and improved staff and community safety with two waiting areas and security features.

If you’ve walked past the front of NCN Health Cobram recently you will have noticed that the steel frames are up along with the internal frames and work is progressing nicely.

NCN Health Director of Operations Justin Sullivan described the project as “incredibly exciting and important for the community” and said it was made possible by the Victorian Government’s 2020/2021 Regional Health Infrastructure Fund. The funding is designed to expand capacity, improve safety, quality and efficiency and deliver better care to patients, no matter where they live.”

He said despite the recent wet weather the project was on track to see part of Urgent Care reopening by December this year, with a final completion date for the first quarter of 2024.

Lodge Redevelopment in Planning Stage

The redevelopment of Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge was confirmed by the Victorian Government following the release of the May State Budget.

$54.3 million was committed to the project, which is coordinated by The Victorian Health Board Authority (VHBA) and the Department of Health in partnership with NCN Health.

Construction for the redevelopment is expected to begin in 2025. To ensure that this is possible, NCN Health are currently working with the VHBA and the Department of Health to progress the master plans. Once the planning stage is complete more information will be made available on the next steps for the new facility.

The redevelopment will see a new 36-bed residential aged care next to the Numurkah Karinya Nursing Home and hospital acute ward. It will feature larger, more spacious and functional rooms to allow for improved mobility and care for residents while creating a safer and more efficient working environment for staff.

NCN Health CEO Jacque Phillips said the health service was excited to see the project underway

"The redevelopment of the Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge is a priority capital works project for NCN Health. The funding is the result of more than 20 years of tireless advocacy from past and current board members, staff and community. We understand interest in the project is high and NCN Health will continue to engage the community at every stage of the redevelopment through ongoing consultation and updates. "

Healthy Choices for food provided to staff and visitors in Victorian Hospitals.

Why change food and drink provided?

Healthy choices: Policy directive for Victorian public health services

The Policy directive aims to reinforce health services as places that support the health and well-being of their staff and visitors.

What food is changing across NCN Health campuses?

Changes to drinks were completed by the target date of September 2022.

Staff and visitors will see changes to food provided before September 2023 as we will be working towards being compliant by these key dates set by the Victorian Government

September 2023

From September 2023 NCN Health campuses will be compliant to meet this criteria (to the right) for provision of food to staff and visitors.

More Information

More information and updates will continued to be shared in upcoming newsletters, NCN Health will be open to suggestions from staff to aid this process when planning.

AMBULANCE COVER IN VICTORIA

Have you got ambulance cover? Did you know that Emergency medical transport services are not free and not covered by Medicare?

Some concession card holders are eligible for free ambulance transfers, however, if you are not sure, you should check.

If you are not covered you may find yourself with a large bill to pay in the event of an emergency or an ambulance transfer between health services.

Ambulance Victoria responds to over 2,200 calls a day around the state. Make sure you are covered!

It is cheap and easy to become a member of Ambulance Victoria. You can join or find out more information here; https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/membership/

HEALTH CARE AT HOME

Did you know you can talk to a GP over the phone or online for a variety of services, these include; general medical consultations, prescriptions, medical certificates, referrals for things such as x-rays, ultrasounds, specialists and allied health appointments.

There are also dedicated child and maternal health lines and a general health care advice line called ‘Nurse on Call’ that are free of charge.

In the event of a life threatening emergency, call 000.

VICTORIAN VIRTUAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Have you heard about the Victorian Virtual ED (VVED)?

Over the last year they've treated 75,000 patients - about the same as the Royal Melbourne's ED. The virtual ED provides emergency care for minor injuries - things like burns or a broken finger. When you call you'll be assessed online by emergency doctors and nurses.

Then the team will help you organise any tests, prescriptions and follow ups you need - all over the phone or on a video call.

It means getting care from the comfort of home, and freeing up EDs for people who need them most. Thanks to the virtual ED 59,000 Victorians avoided having to go to a hospital ED and instead got care at home.

To access VVED online go to https://www.vved.org.au/ or google VVED.

Auxiliary Update

Cobram District Health Ladies Auxiliary

Many thanks to the Cobram District Health Ladies Auxiliary who have purchased more than $8000 in resources and equipment for Cobram Campus so far this year

In partnership with staff, the Auxiliary identified a number of items required to assist in service delivery and quality of care Some of these include; bariatric vinyl chairs for the acute ward, shower chairs in Irvin House, saddle chairs and slide boards used in podiatry and allied health, a rowing machine for physiotherapy and allied health, a diabetes analyser kit for Community Health and Wellbeing and high back adjustable chair for use in the medical clinic waiting room

The Auxiliary run a number of fundraising events each year to support their contributions and are an amazing group of quiet achievers who are an asset to our health service

Card and Games Day!

The Cobram District Health Ladies Auxiliary will be holding a Card, Games and Luncheon Day on Thursday October 12 from 11am. Come along for an afternoon of games, delicious lunch, raffles door prize and trading tables.

All proceeds from the event go toward resources and equipment for NCN Health Cobram ensuing the best quality care for our community.

Tickets are $25 each and include lunch. For more information or to book your spot, contact Val Linquist on 0490 531 784.

The Card and Games Day will be held at Barooga Bowls Club, Snell Road, Barooga.

Screen Time!

Residents and staff of Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge would like to thank the NPML Auxiliary for their generous donation of a big screen TV to the Lodge The mobile TV and unit was requested by Diversional Therapy staff so it could be moved across the different communal areas of the Lodge and used for various activities and events.

The TV has already been a hit, the large screen making it user friendly and easy to see for all the residents and recently featured in the Lodge 47th birthday celebrations.

Pictured are:

Standing – Gwen Varley, Heather Brown, Rosemary Kennett, Margaret McClelland, Elizabeth Rees. Seated – Betty Heard, Margaret Caccianiga.

Connect With Seniors

Ageing can bring challenges and it won’t always be obvious when someone is struggling. That’s why it’s important to regularly connect and have meaningful conversations with the seniors in your life so they feel supported and know you care.

Ideas for how to connect

Genuinely ask, ‘are you OK?’ so those you care about feel connected and supported.

For more ideas about how to connect through conversation visit ruok.org.au

When should I connect a person to a Care Finder at NCN Health

Care Finders support vulnerable arrange services without member or friends who can help.

who would not be able to and do not have a family older people intensive support

Care finder services are provided at no cost as they are fully funded through Primary Health Networks.

Who can receive assistance from a Care Finder?

Care Finders are not for everyone. They specifically help vulnerable older Australians who need intensive assistance to access aged care and other supports.

To receive care finder support, a person must:

• have no carer or support person who can help them, or

• not have a carer of support person they feel comfortable or trust to support them, and

• be eligible for government-funded aged care.

In addition, they should have one or more of these reasons for needing intensive support:

• have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy problems

• find it difficult to understand information and make decisions

• be reluctant to engage with aged care or government

• be in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.

How does the service work?

If someone requires this support, then a local organisation can connect them with a dedicated Care Finder. The Care Finder will meet with them, usually in person. This can be at their home or another place they choose. The Care Finder will ask questions to understand the person’s situation and support them to work through the steps to address their needs.

What help can Care Finders provide?

Care Finders can help people understand what aged care services are available, set up an assessment and find and choose services. They also help people with access to other supports

ALTERNATIVEHEALTH SERVICESGUIDE

NCN Health’s UCC Departments and affiliated medical centers have experienced high demand and staffshortages,resultinginlengthywaittimesforsomepatients.

Ifyourpatients’conditionisnoturgentorlife-threatening,pleasecalltheGPorrefertothelistof alternativeservicesbelow.

Thankyou

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•Prescriptions&medicalcertificates$15

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Onlineprescriptions,telehealthdoctorconsultations, onlinemedicalcertificatesandpathologyrequests

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•Monday–Friday,8am–6pm,$250

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ThisVictorianVirtualEmergencyDepartmentisafreeservice

QUALITY

Lots has been happening in Quality over the past month

NCN Health is accredited!

Well, what a busy time it has been for the last 10 months at NCN Health!

In August 2022 we had a full accreditation survey with assessors from ACHS against the National Standards

Also in August 2022 we had a full aged care unannounced accreditation visit September 2022 Nathalia Medical Clinic underwent accreditation

It was NDIS in the spotlight in January 2023 for a mid term review

Aged care assessors were back again in February 2023 for a full unannounced accreditation visit in Nathalia This was followed up, also in February, with both NPML and Karinya in Numurkah having full unannounced accreditation visits

Finally in June 2023, aged care assessors returned to Cobram (unannounced of course!) to reassess a few areas that had been identified for improvement

A HUGE congratulations to all staff on outstanding results all round – NCN Health has now achieved full accreditation, and met all required standards, in all residential aged care and acute /community services, NDIS and Nathalia Medical Clinic, which is no mean feat!

So what's next?

Cobram Medical Clinic has a scheduled accreditation visit in September this year and we wish them all the very best. Acute and Community Services, who have accreditation under the National standards, have now moved to the Short Notice Assessment Program (SNAP) as of July 1st this year. This means that accreditation visits are no longer planned but we will relieve only 48 hours notice of assessors arriving on site. This means that we need to be prepared at any time to be reviewed. A positive step towards consistently excellent care!

In response to the Royal Commission, New Aged Care Standards are being trialled and will be released in early 2024.

Feedback Hubs

Each NCN Health campus now has at least one feedback hub. The Feedback Hubs are easy to find, simple to sue and there are a few options to choose from to provide feedback.

Scan the QR Code with a phone or device and the consumer will be asked a few quick questions about their experience at NCN Health

Follow the instructions on the touch screen

Fill in a paper based feedback from

Feedback now has a dedicated email addressfeedback@ncnhealth org au