The aim of MSOAP-ICD is to increase access to a range of health services, including expanded Primary Health Care, provided to Aboriginal people in rural and remote communities for the prevention, detection, treatment and management of chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, chronic renal (kidney) disease; and cancer.

Hunter New England Local Health District has been funded by Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing until June 2013 to establish these multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) to provide 12 specialist outreach programs in Chronic Disease specifically for Aboriginal people and Inverell is the first hospital in the district to open a clinic.

The Cardiology MDT will be offering an outreach clinic headed by staff cardiologist Dr Stuart Tanner.

Also included in the team will be a Clinical Nurse Consultant (Cardiology), an Echocardiogram Technician and will be supported by local nursing staff including Aboriginal Health Education Officers and a Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse.

The first of the Cardiology clinics was held on Wednesday and will now be held bi monthly at Inverell Hospital and the cardiac rehabilitation program will be offered once a week.

Clinic Coordinator Janice Cutmore said the first Aboriginal cardiology clinic is a real bonus for the Aboriginal people in Inverell and the surrounding areas.

“On average Aboriginal people die 17 years younger than non-Aboriginal,” she said.

“But there is still much to be done to achieve Aboriginal health equity within 25 years.”

Program co-ordinator for Integrated Chronic Care for Aboriginal People Vicki Holliday added that the organisation of the cardiology has been made possible through a partnership between Hunter New England Health, Armajun Medical Service and the New England Division of GP’s.