Shire of Murray Council says the region’s latest Health and Wellbeing Profile has confirmed the need to identify a long-term solution to health care service provision in the area, with 37% of residents found to have a long-term health issue, compared to 30% in greater Perth.
Council CEO, Dean Unsworth said the Shire of Murray had established a multi-agency steering committee to find an appropriate way forward for health care in the local government area.
“The Murray Health Futures Steering Committee, comprising representatives from the Shire, South Metropolitan Health Service, WA Primary Health Alliance and Peel Development Commission, recently called for community input into the most significant analysis of the area’s health and social needs the Shire has ever undertaken,” said Mr Unsworth.
“More than 200 people have actively participated in the assessment, and the Committee is now reviewing the findings of this input. From here we will develop a business case for government consideration that will address community needs.”
According to the Health and Wellbeing Profile, which was undertaken by South Metropolitan Health Service, 51.8% of adults live with obesity – versus 34.5% in WA, while 28% have high blood pressure and 14.8% have high or very high psychological distress – versus 10.5% statewide.
Council says the information will inform the Committee’s formal health and social needs assessments, the findings of which are expected to be released in the coming month.
