THE VOID in public health services between John Hunter Hospital and Wyong Hospital could be filled in the next five years as Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper confirms talks are under way for a Morisset HealthOne service. Login or signup to continue reading Morisset is one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the Hunter, tipped to grow by more than 12,000 people in the next two decades. Mr Piper has been fighting for a hospital in southern Lake Macquarie for years and said Hunter New England Health (HNEH) has "finally" agreed that there is a need for public health services.
He said a draft strategy is in progress and said he understands HNEH has approached Lake Macquarie council to see what land might be available. "The real plan is to actually deliver brick and mortar type health services in southern Lake Macquarie, and what they're talking about is to deliver what they call a 'HealthOne', which is a pretty significant facility that has been successfully deployed in other regional areas," he said. HealthOne facilities bring together GPs and community health professionals in multidisciplinary teams under one roof.
There are 27 across the state including one at Raymond Terrace. Other health and social care providers can also been involved in the model, for example pharmacists, public dental services, private allied health professionals, other government agencies and non-government organisations. The range of services provided is determined in the early stages of planning in consultati.