Country health celebrates access achievements this International Day of People with Disability

This International Day of People with Disability, WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is highlighting our commitment to the ongoing development of accessible and inclusive healthcare.

International Day of People with Disability promotes community awareness and acceptance by focusing on how we can work together to remove physical, technological, and social barriers.

In line with this, throughout 2022-23 we have expanded the use of volunteers at site entrances to assist with enquiries and wayfinding – enabling our patients and carers to navigate hospitals and access information more easily.

We have also increased the delivery of virtual outpatient appointments for patients to receive care from the comfort of their own home. For people with disability, removing the need for travel wherever possible can alleviate stress and improve timeliness of care.

The successful launch of the We Hear You project in the Great Southern late last year means patients that are hard of hearing have access to state-of-the-art hearing devices and assistive signage – improving lines of communication between patients, clinicians and hospital administration staff.

Our Director Patient Safety and Quality Jaimy Wisse said the milestones were impressive but just the beginning.

“We are committed to implementing meaningful initiatives to progress toward better access,” Jaimy said.

“We have already had great success with a number of programs making meaningful impact to our patients and communities – but there’s more to be done.

“Access to health should be equal to every individual and that’s why we remain committed to delivering equitable services across all regions,” he added.