MEDIA RELEASE
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is providing Hilltops locals an opportunity to share their stories about health in an effort to better support the community’s health needs.
MPHN is asking members of the community to share their thoughts on what is important to them about health, and what improvements could be made, as part of its HNA Community Feedback campaign.
MPHN Acting CEO Julie Redway said the feedback received would help to inform how health needs are met in the region.
“Each year we look at the various sources of information available to us about the health of our region including data and feedback from community, to help us identify any new or emerging needs for us to consider as we plan our activity for 2021 and beyond,” Ms Neal said.
“We already know what data is telling us about the health needs of the Murrumbidgee and it’s important for us to know and understand from locals what people are actually experiencing.”
As part of the campaign, MPHN representatives will also visit Harden to have casual ‘conversations on the couch’ with community members and health professionals.
The event will take place on Thursday 25 March 2021 between 9:30am and 11:30am at DJs on Neil and all members of the community are invited to attend.
“These conversations enable people to talk to us and help us plan for future services so that all Murrumbidgee people achieve the best health outcomes,” Ms Redway said.
Alison Koschel, Senior Manager Population Health Planning and Data at MPHN, said previous research has highlighted a number of health issues relevant to Hilltops.
“Our Health Needs Assessment in 2018 showed males living in the Hilltops LGA had a higher risk of premature deaths, and there is also a higher risk of deaths from cancer generally, with lung cancer having a higher incidence in the region. We also know smoking during pregnancy, female smokers, and sexual and domestic assault have also been identified as risk factors for people living in the Hilltops communities,” Dr Koschel said.
“HNA Community Feedback is a great opportunity for the people living in the various communities in the Hilltops Local Government Area to share their thoughts and views on how we can reduce these risk factors and improve the health of everyone in the community.”
Locals are encouraged to head to www.mphn.org.au/hna to submit their feedback anytime during the month of March.
