RHealth provides access to Allied Health, Mental Health and Specialist services right across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland

Increasing access to primary health care services is the aim of the Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS – pronounced ‘RIPS’) Program.

 

A team of 30 contracted Allied Health Professionals including Podiatrists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and more deliver services through GP referral across the entire RHealth service area. You can access a list of available services here.

 

The South West Healthy Communities Program (SWHCP) team, based at Charleville, includes two Dietitians that provide services through GP referral as well as health education and health promotion activities across the Far South West region. RHealth also works with Queensland Health, and the Bulloo and Quilpie Shire Councils to conduct health education and health promotion activities in the Far South West under the SWHCP banner.

 

Health education and health promotion is also available at Kilkivan through this Program.

Email Louise Sanderson or phone 07 4638 1377

 

The Indigenous Chronic Disease part of MSOAP provides access to Allied Health services for remote communities, through GP referral, as part of the Closing the Gap initiative.

 

A list of Indigenous Chronic Disease MSOAP services available through GP referral is available here

 

 

Through GP referral individuals and groups of Residential Aged Care Facility residents can access Allied Health services using this initiative. Only services that are not covered by Medicare or other Government funded programs are eligible.

 

Aged Care Access Initiative Service listing - last updated 13 April 2011

Email Jennie Sealy or phone 07 4638 1377

 

 

The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration
The GPMHSC standards focus on the development of the necessary skills for treatment of mental illness in a general practice setting and aims to assist GPs and training providers to determine priorities for training. The focus is on post-vocational, continuing professional development, but within a broader framework encompassing other stages of professional training. Click Here to access The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC)

A full-time Mental Health Accredited Social Worker and a team of contracted Allied Mental Health Professionals provide access to mental health services in towns that previously had no access to these services.

 

The providers see patients through GP referral, where possible working out of the general practice. Some phone and videoconference sessions, as well as group sessions are available through this service.

 

GPs get timely access to clinical, early intervention services, and can also work with the providers under a shared-care model. Patients receive timely and confidential access to services and local access through GPs reduces the need to travel.

 

Rural & Remote Mental Health Service Listing - 15 April 2011

Email Betti Chapelle or phone 07 4638 1377

 

Allied Mental Health Professionals are contracted to provide mental health services under this Program, referred to as ATAPS. Patients can access visits with an Allied Mental Health Professional, such as a Psychologist, on referral by their GP.

 

ATAPS Service Listing - last updated 13 April 2011

 

Specialised Suicide Prevention and Perinatal Depression services are also available through GP referral under ATAPS. Patients at-risk of suicide, or those at-risk of or experiencing perinatal depression can also access a limited number of free visits with an Allied Mental Health Professional, such as a Psychologist, on referral by their GP.

Email Jennie Sealy or phone 07 4638 1377

 

headspace Southern Downs is a health service for anyone aged between 12 and 25 years. It’s about support for general health, mental health, drug and alcohol issues, and employment and education support. The focus of headspace Southern Downs is on early intervention and having a one stop-shop approach to health issues.

 

RHealth is the lead agency, and works in partnership with Drug-Arm, Queensland Health, and Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE.

 

The headspace Southern Downs office is located in Warwick and services the Southern Downs region. Visit the headspace Southern Downs website here.

 

 

A specialised Mental Health Nurse works from general practices in Kilcoy, Kingaroy, Nanango and Wondai. These services are provided through a GP referral to patients with a severe mental illness.

 

Services are billable under Medicare and general practices and private psychiatrists are eligible to employ or contract Mental Health Nurse services under this Federal Government initiative, including one-off incentive payments to establish the service. For more information on this initiative click here