Residents living in Port Macquarie area postcodes will be the first to benefit from a free new service that aims to improve access to local healthcare.
Launched recently, North Coast Health Connect offers a free 1800 phone number or live web chat for residents to speak with a registered nurse any time of the day or night, including public holidays.
Funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program and delivered by Amplar Health and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the new service ensures urgent health concerns can be assessed quickly and confidentially by a trusted health professional. If needed, residents can be connected to a local service or a virtual care appointment.
North Coast Health Connect is supported by participating local general practices who have made appointments available. Local pharmacists have also signed up to make consultations available for users of the new service.
Healthy North Coast is planning to make North Coast Health Connect available to all North Coast residents in early 2023.
North Coast Health Connect will be evaluated by world-leading medical research centre, The George Institute for Global Health, over the next five years.
To find out more, visit the North Coast Health Connect website.