Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has begun developing a new, 10-year Clinical Services Plan (CSP) for the Orange Health Service and is encouraging the community to provide feedback to help shape the future of services in the city and surrounding areas.
WNSWLHD’s Manager of Planning and Service Development, Lindsay Penson, said the CSP will guide the planning and development of services at the Orange Health Service, including mental health and drug and alcohol services, to ensure it meets the needs of the community into the future.
“The CSP will focus on how our community’s needs will continue to change over the next decade, to help us consider what services and infrastructure might be required at the Orange Health Service to meet those needs,” Ms Penson said.
“We use data like population trends and projections to inform the CSP, as well as consider changes to how healthcare will be delivered in the future. Community input is also crucial to understanding local health needs.
“We are inviting people living in and around Orange to have their say through a range of community engagement activities. A community survey is available through our Engage Western NSW Health platform, which takes just 10 minutes to do and is open until Tuesday, 31 October.
“Our planning team has also held two drop-in information sessions and will be hosting two more for anyone who may like to find out more about the CSP process, how they can be involved, or talk with us about local health needs and public health services.”
As one of two regional referral centre in Western NSW, the services in Orange also have an important role to play in supporting communities in the southern region of the Local Health District. Some services, such of those for people suffering severe trauma, also cover the entire Western NSW area.
Ms Penson said there is also an opportunity for passionate community members to nominate themselves for a position on the Orange Clinical Services Plan Steering Committee to help guide the ongoing development of the CSP.
“We are looking for community representatives who have used our health services and have ideas on how to improve them in Orange,” Ms Penson said.
“Once formed, the committee will meet every second month during business hours and will run for 60 minutes. Meetings can be attended in person or virtually.”
To complete the survey or nominate for a position on the Steering Committee, community members can visit the Engage Western NSW Health platform.
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