Better Health for the Bush

The Better Health for the Bush (BHFTB) model

The Better Health for the Bush (BHFTB) model was developed by the Hunter New England Central Coast PHN (HNECC PHN or the PHN) to pursue our vision of Healthy People and Healthy Communities by finding solutions to improve how we attract and retain healthcare providers, working with communities and health professionals to ensure that the solutions fit and work locally.

In the short term BHFTB will continue to pursue the goals of:

• establishing a multisector networked rural health model for Glen Innes, Inverell, and Tenterfield, which includes technology-enabled healthcare to link teams around the patient
• developing localised recruitment packages that attract GPs and allied health workers to vacant roles in targeted locations – using evidence to increase incentives and address disincentives
  

Why is a new model needed?
Communities in the New England region have poorer health outcomes and access to healthcare compared with New South Wales and Australia. On average Australians living in rural and remote areas have shorter lives and higher levels of disease and injury. They have poorer access to, and use of, health services compared with people living in metropolitan areas.

The shortage of GPs and other health professionals in the Tablelands sub-region (Glen Innes, Inverell and Tenterfield) creates barriers to timely health service access.

Find out more about our Better Health for the Bush initiative.