The Tasmanian Government says it is strengthening community care by investing an additional $52 million for in-home and locally delivered community health services.
Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff said the investment includes funding dedicated to the Community Rapid Response Service (ComRRS) in the North West, and across the State.
“The North West Community Rapid Response Services began as a pilot program in 2019, and with funding from the Tasmanian Liberal Government will now become a permanent service,” Minister Rockliff said.
The service is a shared care model between GPs and the Community Rapid Response team, who deliver a hospital-avoidance program that provides quality care within the community for those with a range of conditions, including chronic and complex illnesses.
On average, the North West Community Rapid Response Service receives 60-70 referrals per month, and since the pilot program was launched in 2019, has delivered over 4,630 hours of care, providing better health outcomes for their patients.
“We know that when people are treated in the community – when appropriate – they recover sooner,” the Minister said.
“And, through investing in community-based multidisciplinary models of care, we can prevent presentations to the emergency department and reduce hospital admissions. This frees up hospital beds, meaning more medical and surgical services for more patients who need them,” he said.
“The permanency of this program delivers on our Plan to implement solutions to the challenges we face in health, and ensures that Tasmanians get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
