The municipality lost the services of three Westbury Community Health Centre workers when a new federal program began on January 1, with an increased focus on chronic disease instead of preventative services.

Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins said the meeting would give residents an understanding of the impact the change had on the community and an understanding of the rural health tender process.

“It is also to allow the community to express their disappointment on the impact of the changes to the rural health program,” he said.

“We’re getting anecdotal evidence from community members who were directly benefiting from those services that they fear for the loss and the impact it might have on them.”

Cr Perkins said the council had written to thr federal Health Minister and had a “postive meeting” with Primary Healthcare Tasmania last week.

“At the end of the day it comes down to making sure that government at all levels are focused on how best to work on preventive health activities to prevent people from reaching chronic clinical issues.” 

In January a PHT spokeswoman told The Examiner preventive health services could not be commissioned under the new rural primary health funding program “except where they relate to people with or at risk of chronic conditions.”

The Meander Valley is now serviced by Diabetes Tasmania.

RELATED STORIES: