It’s your health that matters: Health Care Services Plan presents a 10-year vision for the future of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District’s health services. The new Plan describes an integrated health system for the Illawarra Shoalhaven region which supports people to stay healthy in their homes and communities.

In developing the Health Care Services Plan, we carried out extensive consultation and engagement with our community, partner organisations and other stakeholders. This consultation was vital in setting the direction for the District and the Plan’s five key focus areas.

We know that the way forward will require us to think differently and change the way we deliver services. We also know that we will need to be adaptable and innovative as we move into this new era.

The District’s five key Focus Areas for the next 10 years will be:

Focus Area A: Promote, protect and maintain the health of the community

Minimise preventable diseases, reduce the impact of disease, promote self-management and coordinated care, and minimise hospital admissions.

Focus Area B: Strengthen care in the community

Deliver care through community-based models, integrated with primary care and other service providers. Reduce the length of time people stay in hospital and support them to receive as much of their care as possible at home.

Focus Area C: Address the cultural and health needs of Aboriginal people

Work with Aboriginal communities to design and deliver services that will improve the physical, cultural, spiritual and familial wellbeing of Aboriginal people to improve health and life outcomes.

Focus Area D: Commit to high value care

Organise services using evidence based clinical guidelines to deliver maximum health outcomes for investment

Focus Area E: Strengthen partnerships and engagement

Strengthen collaboration with our partner organisations and other stakeholders to address the things that influence health and improve the health and wellbeing of the community.

You can read the full document It’s your health that matters: Health Care Services Plan, here.