A month into offering a nurse-led, drop-in service for Launceston's most vulnerable, Mission Health is working to "fill the gaps" in healthcare.
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A collaboration between City Mission, the UTAS School of Nursing and Tasprac, the service aims to provide free healthcare for people who may otherwise go without.
Operating every Thursday from Frederick Street, City Mission client services operations manager Ray Green said it aimed to bridge the gap between the socially disadvantaged and accessible health services.
"We recognised the need for a service like this, and it was just a matter of getting the partnerships in place to make it work," he said.
"A lot of our clients really struggle to manage their healthcare, whether due to mental illness or social isolation.
"They often struggle to engage with GPs full stop.
"Part of the reason this service works is because we already have a relationship with them."
With services including general health assessments, chronic health management, sexual health testing and immunisations, nurse practitioner Jane Laidlaw said Mission Health was making an impact.
"In the first week we weren't sure how people were going to respond, but suddenly more and more have been coming in," she said.
"We understand it will take some time.
"But our real focus at this point is finding out what it is most important to that person, at that time, and then being able to provide them with that essential service."
Registered nurse Michele Dowlman said for someone who was homeless, getting to a GP was often the last thing on their mind.
"It can be hard to see a GP when you are under stress, or living somewhere that isn't safe," she said.
"There is a big move for more nurse-led resources, like this.
"We are often an underutilised resource, particularly with GP clinics becoming harder to get into."
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
