Macarthur Health Service is one of five sectors within SWSAHS and delivers quality health care to the residents of the three local government areas of Wollondilly, Camden and Campbelltown. Macarthur Health is a part of the NSW health system with its major responsibility being to improve the health of the community of Macarthur.

Key features of the Macarthur population are:

  • Around 30% of the population are under the age of 15
  • 50% of the aboriginal population of SWS lives in Macarthur
  • 26.5% of Macarthur's residents were born overseas
  • 14% of the population are over 65

The major areas of health status deficiency for residents of Macarthur are:

  • High overall death rates
  • High mortality rates from circulatory, cancer and respiratory diseases
  • High rates of injuries and suicides
  • High rates of alcohol and drug dependence
  • High rates of diabetes

The next five years will see major development of services with the aim of increasing the availability of services to the local community and reducing the need to travel outside Macarthur for health services. The principles relating to the development of health services in Macarthur are: an emphasis on prevention, early intervention health promotion and community involvement. Additionally, an emphasis on community based health care with ambulatory care delivering services as an alternative to hospital based care.

In 1998, major capital works commenced in Macarthur to assist the health services to achieve Better Health, Good Health Care for the Macarthur residents. These developments includes:

  • Upgrade of Campbelltown Hospital from 191 beds level 3 hospital to a 320 beds level 5 hospital (due for completion 2004)
  • Upgrade of Camden Hospital to a modern 84 bed hospital with a full range of Level 3 services
  • A Cancer Therapy Centre providing radiation and chemotherapy services to 120 patients per day
  • An Adolescent mental health inpatient and day only unit catering for 10 inpatient beds and 10 day only places for adolescents 12-16 years old
  • Completion of community health centres at Rosemeadow and Tahmoor taking the number of Community Health Centres to 5. A second family care cottage will be built at Narellan (due for completion 2004)
  • In line with Health Service delivery, a range of mobile health services provide service to remote rural sites within Macarthur

Health services within Macarthur are managed on the continuum of care model. The continuums are managed by a Director who reports to me as the General Manager. Further information about the Continuums can be found elsewhere on the Macarthur Health Service web site.

 

General Manager
Macarthur Health Service