Northern NSW Local Health District annual meeting covers voluntary assisted dying, low birth rates, ageing population and more

Lower birth rates, a growing ageing population, worker shortages and voluntary assisted dying have been raised as key issues by Northern NSW Local Health District.

Northern NSW Local Health District CEO Tracey Maisey, who took on the job about three months ago. She is pictured alongside Lismore Base Hospital.

Lower birthrates, a growing ageing population, worker shortages, and voluntary assisted dying have been raised as key issues by Northern NSW Local Health District.

The senior population is predicted to boom by 31 per cent from 312,000 to about 331,000 by 2036 – and it will require an “an innovative approach” to meet demand.

Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive officer Tracey Maisey.

A community meeting at Lismore Base hospital in November also highlighted some what increased rates of risky alcohol consumption, obesity, increased admissions for type-one diabetes, self-harm, illicit drugs and suicide.

About three months since taking over from Wayne Jones, Northern NSW Local Health District CEO Stacey Maisey said the health service needs to innovate and move with the times, particularly after events in recent years, like the catastrophic 2022 floods and eye-opening global Covid pandemic.

Flooding in Lismore last year.

“Over the floods we lost 140 aged care beds across the district,” she said.

“We had close to 50 beds of patients in our facilities populated with members of our community that were actually well enough to be discharged but couldn’t find an aged care bed and therefore are taking beds for patients that are acutely unwell now.

“We are very happy to look after those patients but that’s not the right place for them.”

Ms Maisey said she was advocating for the development of more aged care services.

She said there was a “disproportionate” increase in demand from those aged 65 and older.

Lismore Base Hospital Covid testing.

Emergency admissions increased by 3.9 per cent over the 2021/2022 period while hospital admissions fell to 0.3 per cent in the same period, it was revealed.

“While we’ve had similar amount of admissions, length of stay is increasing which means the utilisation of beds has changed, and we are doing more surgeries,” Ms Maisey said.

“We have a 5.8 per cent reduction in the birthrate in the district so our population is getting older and the number of births is reducing.”

Ms Maisey said “new service delivery models” and “enhancing technology” in the region was key.

It comes as the sparkling new Tweed Valley Hospital is due to open at Cudgen in the Tweed Shire early next year.

The new Tweed Valley Hospital in November.

Ms Maisey said patients across the region, dispersed far and wide, must have equitable access to healthcare.

Voluntary Assisted Dying

Meanwhile, Susie Cooper, health district project manager for voluntary assisted dying, said the district was prepared for change after legislation passed in NSW on November 28.

Ms Cooper said there must be support services in place to enable people eligible to make the right decision for them.

“I was concerned about the rollout in New Zealand, that people might be making permanent decisions about what may be temporary problems,” she said.

Voluntary assisted dying will be available for eligible people.

“We’ve got a working party made up of 23 experts from across our district making sure we’ve left no stone unturned when thinking about what this will mean to the person, but also to the staff involved.”

In Australia, it’s expected about 1.5 to two per cent of patients will choose voluntary assisted dying.

Ms Cooper said more 1200 staff have attended education sessions.

She said people in remote rural areas may be significantly disadvantaged due to distance and the difficulties forming relevant relationships.

“We have a partnership model with the state to ensure patients that have requested VAD are being cared for appropriately,” Ms Cooper said.

Originally published as Northern NSW Local Health District annual meeting covers voluntary assisted dying, low birth rates, ageing population and more