Hay’s Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) hosted a very well attended open day at Hay Multipurpose Service (MPS) on Monday.
More than 65 community members and service providers gathered on the lawns for morning tea, before tours of McFarland Wing were given by Acting Facility Manager Melissa O’Brien.
The McFarland Wing has recently been extended and now boasts 19 aged care beds, as well as shared spaces for communal dining and activities.
A new overhead lifter has also been installed which Ms O’Brien says not only helps avoid injuries for staff but maintains the dignity of residents.
The state-of-the-art machine assists the movement of patients from their beds into the bathroom, without the need to transfer between multiple mobility aids.
Ms O’Brien also shared the efforts staff make to provide a home-like atmosphere, encouraging families to visit for barbecues in the beautiful accessible gardens and to celebrate in the private lounge.
“Our purpose is to make them feel comfortable, and make this feel just like their home,” she said. Residents are able to bring with them items of furniture, personal art and photographs to decorate their rooms.
“These tours are to showcase our facility and help reduce anxiety among those who may be considering aged care in their future,” Ms O’Brien said.
After the tours Hay Shire Council General Manager David Webb acted as emcee and introduced a wide variety of healthcare industry speakers.
Community nurses Hannah Morrison and Sharon Weymouth were introduced and Ms Morrison explained they help deal with wound and palliative care in the community.
Ms Morrison is also the Child and Family Nurse, supporting parents and their children with post-natal care, while Ms Weymouth is part of the team at Hay Aboriginal Medical Service (HAMS).
Taylor Goulding from HAMS spoke about the variety of services available Monday to Friday at HAMS, including a bulk-billed GP, chiropractor, endocrinologist, optometrist, cardiologist, ear, nose, throat specialist and audiologist.
HAMS Social, Emotional Wellbeing worker Emerald Ingram also attended, and the service runs programs dealing with children and families, quit smoking and alcohol and drug programs, mental health support, dietitian and NDIS services.
Cluster Manager Craig McColm spoke about the community advocacy role LHAC committee play.
“They are a big part of any service planning in community and a great asset,” he said.
Pauline Symons spoke about the various exercise sessions she facilitates, with the help of volunteer Jenny Clark. Gentle exercise sessions are held at the War Memorial Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays, with a strength and balance class on Mondays at the MPS.
Throughout the week Ms Symons runs activities for McFarland Wing residents.
“The social side of our classes is important and we have become like a little family,” she said.
Manager of Haydays, Debbie Shea gave a brief overview of the 24-place residential centre, which is currently renovating several rooms.
Activities officer Rebecca White spoke about her role at Haydays, keeping residents active and engaged. Morning exercise, bingo, audio book club, gardening, games, music and pet therapy and movies are all part of the activities on offer.
“It’s about getting everyone out of their rooms and mingling with each other,” Ms White explained.
Maddy Fletcher shared the myriad of services available through the Hay Medical centre.
“We are a multidisciplinary services, aimed at preventative care,” she explained.
Alongside the regular GP and pathology services the centre is the venue for a wide range of visiting services; podiatry, radiology, hearing testing, optometry, dermatology, cardiology, pathology a diabetic clinic, bone bus, sleep studies, telehealth and acupuncture.
Liz Gibson spoke of the work the Hay Hospital Auxiliary does to support our town’s MPS. They raise funds and meet with the facility manager on a monthly basis to learn what equipment is needed and what they may be able to fund.
“We provide the things that are worthwhile, and benefit the staff and the patients,” she said.
Most recently the group has received $5,500 funding from Engie to purchase new mattresses, and in the recent past has provided beds and medical trolleys.
The work of the auxiliary has greatly benefited from the endowments from the estates of the late Mrs Dot Morone and Mr Perce Stratton.
During the proceedings members of the auxiliary presented Kevin Heerey with a gift and flowers for his wife Wendy.
The Heereys have been tireless workers for the committee, with Wendy acting as treasurer for many years. When her health began to fail Kevin stepped in and added the treasurer role to his secretarial duties.
Nick Praestiln is completing his training to become a nurse practitioner and has been visiting Hay on his rounds of rural services for 12 months.
He spoke about his role, which extends his registered nurse training into more specialised medical support, allowing him to prescribe medication, order imaging, such as x-rays and CT scans, and blood tests, interpret results and around referrals.
The visiting dental health team also addressed the crowd, explaining that all children with a Medicare card and adults with a concession card are able to access the service, which comes to Hay each month.
Paul Penrith from Safe Haven travelled to Hay to be part of the open day. Safe Haven operates in Griffith and Wagga Wagga, and provided ‘fill-in’ mental health and suicide prevention services from 2pm to 9pm Thursdays to Mondays, when other services are closed.
“Anyone who is in distress can come to us and meet with peer workers who have lived with experience of suicide or suicidal thoughts.”
Louise Fraser was the day’s final speaker. Ms Fraser is part of the Farming Community Counselling, which provides one on one professional support and counselling to farmers, their families and the wider agricultural community.
“We also have an acute mental health and alcohol team that visits Hay once a week,” Ms Fraser shared.
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This article appeared in The Riverine Grazier, 16 October 2024.
