Rural Health Outreach Fund - Pain Management Services expansion

RDN has been awarded Commonwealth funding to expand the Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) program until June 2021.

The aim of the expansion is to improve access to pain management services for people living in remote and rural NSW communities and enhance the skills and resources available to primary care providers.

The program will assist patients to access current practice pain management by supporting additional specialised services and upskilling opportunities available to rural primary health providers. The additional services and health workforce upskilling will focus on best-practice prescribing; reduction of harm resulting from overuse of opioids; and supporting non-pharmacological pain management alternatives and supplementary care.

RDN is undertaking a needs assessment to prioritise the use of finite RHOF – Pain Management services funding and will include a focus on remote areas. We have started consulting with regional stakeholders, expert pain management groups, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) and service providers. We will also seek input on patient needs in local communities, evidence-based best practice models of care and primary care education to inform the RHOF – Pain Management services activity work plan.

For more information contact the Outreach team via email or call 02 8337 8100.