Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health staff provide patient support in specialty health areas such as maternity and infant health, mental health, drugs and alcohol, chronic disease, and sexual health. They also provide an advocacy and liaison service, enabling them to act as a cultural link between health professionals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and patients’ carers and families. Our friendly team is located across our facilities in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and rural areas, and members are often a great first point of contact for anyone seeking information about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health service. Health staff have a wealth of information and are there to support and help patients and their families throughout their hospital stay. They can be contacted as follows: Bundaberg Hospital 07 4150 2174     Hervey Bay Hospital 07 4325 6670     Maryborough Hospital 07 4122 8222     Rural facilities 07 4161 3571

Our Social Work team are also available to provide advice, make referrals and advocate for access to services for patients, families and carers experiencing emotional and/or social issues.

These may include grief and loss, aged care placements, family and domestic violence, child and family matters, financial difficulties, housing issues and more.

The Social Work team can be contacted as follows:

Planning your discharge is an important part of your recovery process. Our aim to discharge you when you are well enough to leave hospital, but your discharge planning actually starts early in your admission to ensure the return to your home environment is well organised. Your estimated day of discharge will be provided to you and your family or carer on your admission.  Plans for transport home can be organised for around this date. At your time of discharge, remember to ask for: Your discharge summary (which helps your regular doctor with your ongoing care) Access to medications under the Closing the Gap PBS Co-Payment Measure program Advice on your medicines at home Information about community health services or other agency support available to you Guidance on transport arrangements A medical certificate for work or Centrelink, if required.

Thinking of discharging yourself?

Except in certain circumstances (such as serious infectious disease or those who are detained under the Mental Health Act), every patient has the right to leave hospital when they choose. However, this may be a serious step when taken against the advice of your doctor and requires great caution.

Should you decide to leave against the advice of your doctor, you will be asked to sign a form to indicate that you take responsibility for your decision and action. We call this a Discharge Against Medical Advice.

Before you make any decisions about your discharge, talk with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health staff so they can offer you support and discuss options, and if necessary, help you to make arrangements for the safest possible discharge. They can also assist you with:

• Advice on how to take care of your health condition
• Medications and prescriptions
• What to do if your condition changes
• Your discharge summary and contact person details
• Support to contact family or help with transport.

MEDICAL SERVICES

We work in partnership with a number of local service providers that are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical services or registered Closing the Gap general practices.

Through these services, you can also register for the Closing the Gap program, which can give you access to:

• Yearly comprehensive adult or child health checks
• Free or cheaper medicines
• Chronic disease health care and management, including medical aids and equipment
• Specialist and allied health services
• Prevention programs.

Providers in Wide Bay are as follows:

INTEGRATED TEAM CARE

Following your discharge, you may also be eligible for Integrated Team Care (ITC). This is a free program specifically for people with chronic disease, and consists of Care Coordinators and Outreach Workers who may be able to:

• Help you understand your chronic health condition and how to manage it
• Help you connect with support groups
• Arrange home help
• Help you to access medical services
• Help you understand your care plan and medical jargon
• Access some medical aids for your chronic condition

This support may help to keep you out of hospital, help you to access care that may otherwise be too expensive, and provide you with tools to better manage your health.

For information about ITC, talk to one of our Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander Health staff, or your GP.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services produces a pocket guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health consumers, called Making Tracks to Better Health. The pocket guide provides a range of information, from services available in our hospitals and in the community, through to useful contacts across the region.

Other useful contacts are as follows:

WBHHS Quick Find phone directory

Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit – Visit https://www.health.qld.gov.au/atsihealth

Department of Human Services – 1800 222 032 or visit https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/indigenous-australians

National Health Service Directory – Visit www.nhsd.com.au