Extra funding to boost medical services in Kondinin/Kulin & Lake Grace

10/3/99
Medical services in the Shires of Kondinin/Kulin and Lake Grace will be boosted with extra funding of nearly $150,000 following the signing of a joint State and Commonwealth Multipurpose Service Agreement.
Health Minister John Day said the Multipurpose Service program was a national initiative involving the pooling of State and Commonwealth funding for health and aged care services.
"The Multipurpose Service program allows communities to access a wider range of quality services that are community focussed, flexible and responsive to the changing community needs," he said.
"This is accomplished by combining resources from services, including health services, aged care facilities, and home and community care."
Mr Day said the funds were used to implement health and aged care services based on a locally agreed service plan.
"Communities can improve the quality and range of services based on their needs and this may include acute hospital care and other health services, nursing home, hostel accommodation and home and community care services," he said.
Kondinin/Kulin will benefit from an additional $85,400 per year. The medical services to be expanded include:

• a nursing clinic at Kulin;
• staff training to address areas of need;
• expanded aged care programs;
• health promotion programs;
• extended occupational therapies;
• support visiting mental health services through the training; and -
• use of an enrolled nurse.

Mr Day said that through the MPS agreement the Lake Grace medical services would receive an additional $64,000. Medical services to be expanded in this area included:

• increased health promotion services;
• staff training;
• increased respite;
• home care;
• equipment purchases to support health promotion activities; and -
• upgraded equipment for hospital aged care clients.

"Western Australia leads the rest of the country in implementing this program with 13 established Multipurpose sites covering 32 rural shires," Mr Day said.
"A further nine sites have been announced for implementation and an additional 20 sites have expressed interest.
"Through the Rural Multipurpose Health and Family Services Network, communities in regional Western Australia can look forward to a greater range of health and community services."
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600