Chronic disease management in Western NSW

These programs run throughout Western NSW LHD and provide identification of risk factors and risk factor reduction, education, exercise, and self-management. Programs are usually between 6 and 8 weeks duration.  

Programs run Monday to Friday during business hours, subject to staffing and patient demand.

A GP referral is required for these programs. These programs currently run in the following sites:

Our diabetes educator services provide comprehensive assessment and specialised management of patients with Type 1, 2 and gestational diabetes who need a higher level of specialist support than the GP can provide.

You need a referral from a GP to access these services.

Educator services may run at the following locations subject to staff availability and patient demand.

Diabetes: Living Better and Stronger is a care partnership program for people with diabetes type 2 living in the Western Region of NSW. It helps connect people to relevant healthcare providers where face-to-face services may be limited. 

For enquiries or referral, call the Integrated Care Central Intake line on 1800 931 975 or email wnswlhd-icpcc@health.nsw.gov.au.

This is offered from Orange and Bathurst for patients with moderate to severe respiratory disease who are at risk of hospitalisation. The program provides care in the home to treat exacerbation early and minimise avoidable admissions. This service is provided to patients who live within 20km of the Orange and Bathurst town centres.

A GP referral is required for this program. 

For information or referral contact Orange Community Health on (02) 6369 3300 or Bathurst Community Health on (02) 6369 5000.

There are a number of public respiratory specialist physicians working within the Western NSW LHD. These specialists see patients with complicated respiratory disease. They are based in Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst Health Services.

A GP referral is required for this service. GPs should contact one of the following health services for more information or to make a referral: 

• Orange Health Service on (02) 6369 3000 
• Bathurst Health Service on (02) 6369 5000
• Dubbo Health Pulmonary Service on (02) 6809 7400 

Dubbo also has a fully equipped respiratory laboratory and a resident respiratory scientist. GPs should contact the Dubbo Respiratory Lab on (02) 6809 6000 to make a referral. 

Give yourself the best possible chance of success by using a combination of stop smoking medications as well as a quit smoking support service.

Talk to your GP or pharmacist about accessing low-cost nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges, or other medications that can help you stop smoking.

The NSW Quitline is a free and confidential telephone service providing customised assistance to help you quit smoking. The trained counsellors can provide you with tips and strategies on how to quit and help you to manage triggers, cravings and withdrawals. Access the Quitline by calling 13 78 48 (13 QUIT), or make an online request for a NSW Quitline call-back.

In Western NSW we also offer an intensive smoking cessation service for people who are heavily addicted to smoking and have previously tried to quit with Quitline and GP support. The program includes comprehensive assessment, identification of smoking triggers, pharmacotherapy and intensive behavioural support. A referral from a GP or other health professional is required.

Contact our Smoking Cessation Coordinators on (02) 6369 8184 or email WNSWLHD-SmokingCessation@health.nsw.gov.au.

David Peebles 
Chronic Care Manager 
Western NSW Local Health District 
Phone:  (02) 63698022​​​​​​​ 
Email: David.Peebles@health.nsw.gov.au 

Our Nephrologists consult patients in their clinics at following sites:  

For contact numbers to dialysis services, see below: 

Dialysis for visitors and holiday makers 

Where possible we make our dialysis services available to people visiting or on holidays in Western NSW. Visiting dialysis patients need to phone ahead on the numbers shown above for information about availability and required documentation.

The hub clinics offer outreach services to some townships in the catchment areas.

Referrals may be required so contact your local service to confirm.

There are a number of resources available if you want to find more information relating to HIV/AIDS, sexual health, viral hepatitis or our Needle and Syringe Programs.

HIV and Sexual Health

• Dried Blood Spot 
• NSW Sexual Health Clinics
• NSW Sexual Health Info
• NSW STI Programs Unit
• Play Safe
• STI and BBV related services in NSW

Viral Hepatitis

• Hepatitis Helpline
• Hep C Cures - Better by a Country Mile 
• MHAHS - Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service 

Needle and Syringe Program (NSP)

• Safe Sharps Disposal

This is a free statewide program for people over the age of 16 years living with complex health conditions, who are at risk of hospital admission in the next 12 months. Our nurse care coordinators help people better understand and manage their health conditions by coordinating and connecting people and their carers  to GPs and other health and social care services.

Health professionals can refer you to the program, or you can contact us directly to see if you are eligible.

For enquiries or to refer phone the Integrated Care Central Intake on  1800 931 975 or email  wnswlhd-icpcc@health.nsw.gov.au.

This service provides additional supports to help people manage their health conditions in their own home and reduce the need for hospitalisation.

Eligible patients are provided with equipment to monitor their health themselves at home, with 7 days a week support from specially trained remote monitoring staff. Our team works in partnership with the person, their carer and other health clinicians to provide individualised support and health care.

For enquiries or to refer phone Remote In-Home Monitoring –  1800 931 975  or email WNSWLHD-RemoteMonitoring@health.nsw.gov.au.