Access to holistic diabetes care is set to improve for Lower Mid North Coast communities with the new Diabetes Alliance Program Plus (DAP+) Medibus visiting Forster and Taree this week.
The custom-built Medibus is a fully equipped mobile health clinic which brings a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including an endocrinologist, diabetes educator, Aboriginal health worker, and podiatrist.
The clinical team will support patients directly and up-skill local general practitioners (GPs), nurses, and allied health professionals to provide gold-standard diabetes care within the primary care sector.
Diabetes remains one of the most critical health challenges for the Hunter and New England region, with an estimated one in eight people living with the condition, and many more undiagnosed.
If left unmanaged, diabetes can result in serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputations, and premature death.
Diabetes disproportionately impacts those living in low socio-economic communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
The service is fully booked for this visit, however the Medibus will return to the Lower Mid North Coast in November. Access to the Medibus is via your GP or a local healthcare provider.
The Medibus is an initiative of the Diabetes Alliance Program Plus (DAP+), first established in 2015 by Hunter New England Local Health District and the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network.
In 2023, a five-year, $12.4 million donation from the Colonial Foundation enabled the program to expand. This included welcoming new partners, including the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle, to lead innovative research and evaluate the program's impact on patient outcomes and the broader health system.
Further information can be found on the dapplus.org website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:
"The DAP+ MediBus is exactly the kind of healthcare innovation our regional communities need.
"By bringing specialist diabetes care close to people's home we are ensuring everyone, regardless of where they live, can access the support and care they need to manage diabetes.
"Everyone deserves equitable access to expert, evidence-based health care. This initiative is delivering tailored, best practice diabetes management directly to regional communities and I'm proud to see the mobile clinic visiting Forster and Taree locals this week."
Quotes attributed to the Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley:
"When we announced the Medibus rollout across the Hunter earlier this year, I was excited to see lifesaving healthcare travelling to people who might otherwise struggle to access the support they need.
"Our goal is to make it easier for people to get the care they need without the stress or burden of travelling long distances, especially in regional and rural areas.
"Diabetes can lead to serious complications, so we're making it easier for people to seek help early. We're looking forward to seeing the Medibus reach even more communities across the Hunter later this year."
Quotes attributed to Labor spokesperson for Myall Lakes, Emily Suvaal:
"I'm very happy to see the Medibus visiting our area and bringing expert, evidence-based diabetes care to those who need it most.
"Diabetes is a significant health challenge for many people in our region, and timely access to care is vital."
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