Mareeba Health Needs Review Summary

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

A profound or severe disability which is defined as needing help or assistance with the individual’s self-care, mobility, and/or communication because of a health condition of 6 or more months.

*

of the population have a profound or severe disability

5.4%Individuals who receive income support from the Australian Government Department of Social Services are more likely to have chronic disease care needs.

Recipients of income support:

Age pension

1,681Newstart allowance

680 Disability support

pensions

448

of the population have completed year 11 or 12

43.0%> compared to

59% across Qld

of the population are the most disadvantage on the index of relative socio-economic disadvantage quintiles.

49.3%

> compared to 20% across Qld

Census data divides populations into five groups, from the most advantaged to the most disadvantaged in the community. This index focuses on low-income earners, unemployment and access to motor vehicles

*

* SA2 = Statistical Area, Level 2. For more information, visit www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1270.0.55.001~July%202016~Main%20Features~Statistical%20Area%20Level%202%20(SA2)~10014

* LGA = Local Government Area 1 Age which half the population is older and the other half is younger.

www.primaryhealth.com.auNorthern Queensland Primary Health Network acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and seas on which we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

OVERVIEW OF MAREEBA POPULATION

are aged 65 and over

20.5%> compared to Qld

average of 14.7%

Rates of chronic disease and the need to access health services are higher in older age groups*

identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

12.3%> compared to 4% across Qld

average annual population growth over the past 5 years

1.6%

> the same rate as Qld

median age of population1

40.7 yrs> compared to Qld

average of 37 years> compared to Qld average

of 39.9 years by 2036

By 2036, the median age is expected to increase to

46.9 yrs

11,334 estimated resident population (MBA SA2)*

22,157 estimated resident population (MBA LGA)*

HEALTH AND HOSPITALISATIONS

Common potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) in Mareeba are related to

cardiac and respiratory diseases, especially:

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

diabetes complications

heart failure

There were over

18,000Category 4 and 5 2 presentations to the Mareeba Hospital in 2016/17

Mareeba has poor indicators of preventive health which can contribute to chronic disease rates and potentially preventable hospitalisations.

In 2015/16 the preventive health indicators in Mareeba showed:

Self-assessed health measures a population’s health, based on an individual’s personal perception of their own health.

In Mareeba, there is a high aged standardised3 rate of fair or poor self-assessed health.

overweight or obese adults

62%have insufficient daily fruit intake

47%have insufficient daily vegetable intake

91%

have insufficient physical activity

46%are daily smokers

18%drink alcohol at levels that cause lifetime risk of health problems

25%

binge drink to risky levels at least once a month

33%have had mental health and behaviour problems in the last six months

14%

*WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS

Increased access to mental health, alcohol and other drugs, youth health, and men’s health programs and services.

An increase in local availability and accessibility of bulk-billed general practice services.

Training and professional development for healthcare workers in areas of mental health (including peer training), alcohol and other drugs, chronic conditions, and cultural competency.

Increased education around acute and primary healthcare, and what appropriate services are available for the community to access.

A trial of an after-hours Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker role to support the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in Mareeba.

2 Category 4: Potentially serious patients – less severe symptoms or injuries, such as foreign body in the eye. Category 5: less urgent patients – minor illnesses or symptoms, rashes, minor aches and pains. (www.qld.gov.au/health/services/emergency)

3 Where data is adjusted to allow populations to be more appropriately compared where the ages of the population are varying.

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and seas on which we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. www.primaryhealth.com.au