Adults – What kinds of health services are there?

Key facts

The health system is complex, and it can be hard to find the help a person with intellectual disability needs. This fact sheet tries to help you through this maze by explaining what health services there are.

Who provides health care?

Usually, the GP is the starting point for health care. If the problem is complicated, GPs can refer you to:

specialist doctors like psychiatrists, rehabilitation physicians and neurologists.
allied health care providers, eg physiotherapists and speech pathologists.

Specialist doctors and allied health care providers work in government services and their own practices.

What will it cost?

Some health services are provided free by government agencies including public hospitals and Community Health Centres. Other health care providers charge for their services.

Medicare provides a payment for visits to the doctor and some other health services. However, this will only cover the full price if the health professional bulk bills.

If a person has private health insurance, this also helps with some health costs, eg private hospital admissions. But, the insurance may not cover the full charge.

It is very important to talk to the health professional about costs before treatment starts, so that you know how much it will be and can talk about options. For hospital treatment, there is often a choice of waiting a long time for free treatment in a public hospital or paying for a private hospital.

Allied health services

Some of these are available for free in community health centres and hospitals, and in community support teams and residential services of the Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC). Other allied health professionals work privately and charge a fee. Sometimes, Medicare can help with this where a GP makes the referral.

Allied health services include physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and:

• Dieticians – advise about diet including healthy food choices. This is important if the person has a weight or swallowing problem, or has diabetes.

• Occupational therapists – advise on equipment like wheel chairs and rails in bathrooms.

• Exercise physiologists – advise about exercise and sport.

• Podiatrists – treat foot and toenail problems, and can recommend footwear.

• Speech pathologists – help with communication and swallowing problems.

• Optometrists - check vision and provide glasses. Eye examinations by optometrists are covered by Medicare.

• Audiologists - test hearing and provide hearing aids. Australian Hearing provides free hearing assessments for pensioners.

• Drug and alcohol services

• Aboriginal health services

• Multicultural health services – these help people from non-English speaking backgrounds. They provide some health services and help people to use ordinary health services.

• Women’s health services – for women’s health issues eg menstruation problems.

• Screening services – check people for some health risks, eg breast cancer and bowel cancer.

• Alternative treatment providers such as osteopaths, naturopaths and chiropractors. If the person uses these treatments, you should let the GP know to check they will not conflict with the doctor’s treatment.

Chronic disease services

A disease is chronic if it is long term and leads to progressive deterioration in health. For example, chronic heart and respiratory diseases and diabetes.

NSW Health has some chronic disease programs:

Chronic disease management programs - These aim to provide coordinated health care and to reduce the progression and complications of the person’s illness.

Community Acute/Post Acute Care (CAPAC) and Hospital in the Home – These programs provide health care in the home for some people with complex health needs.

Healthy at Home – This program provides community care in the community for older people with emerging acute health needs.

The NSW Ombudsman has seen many examples of these programs not being provided to people with disabilities. So, ask the doctor or hospital about these programs if you think they might be relevant to a person’s needs.

Pharmacies

It is a good idea to have a regular chemist. They can recommend basic treatment for common illnesses and package prescription medications in blister packs, to make sure the correct daily medication dose is given.

Dental services

Most dentists work privately but some work in Public Oral Health Services provided by the NSW Government.

Specialised health services for people with intellectual disability

Some health services specialise in complex health problems of people with intellectual disability. These exist to backup and advise GPs, not to take over medical care from mainstream health services.

New 24 hour phone advice line

You can phone healthdirect Australia at any time and obtain free health information and advice from a nurse.

Ambulance service

The Ambulance Service provides emergency treatment and takes injured people to a nearby hospital. Call “000” and ask the operator for an ambulance. If you are not sure how serious the situation is, it is okay to call anyway. In some cases, the ambulance service will also transport people to medical appointments. There may be a cost for some services.

For more information

Aboriginal health services
www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-systems/health-workers/organisations/map-of-aboriginal-medical-services-in-australia

Ambulance Service NSW
www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au

Australian Hearing
www.hearing.com.au/home
Phone (02) 9412 6800 or TTY (02) 9412 6802

Community health centres and public hospitals
www.health.nsw.gov.au/services/index.asp
Phone (02) 9391 9000 or TTY (02) 9391 9900

Community support teams, ADHC -
www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/contact_us
Phone (02) 8270 2000 or TTY (02) 8270 2167

healthdirect Australia
www.healthdirect.org.au
Phone 1800 022 222 or, if you have speech or hearing impairment, 1800 555 677

You might also be interested in these fact sheets

Adults – signs of illness
Alcohol and other drugs
Finding the right doctor
Getting the most out of Medicare
Going to the dentist
Mental health
Specialised intellectual disability health services

This fact sheet was updated in June 2011.

The fact sheet contains general information only and does not take into account individual circumstances. It should not be relied on for medical advice. We encourage you to look at the information in this fact sheet carefully with your health professional to decide whether the information is right for you.