The ACT’s purpose-built mobile health outreach clinic for vulnerable Canberrans, PAT (Pathways to Assistance and Treatment), is now providing healthcare at the Early Morning Centre in Civic.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said Canberrans experiencing homelessness can now access several essential support services in one location.
“We know vulnerable Canberrans, including those experiencing homelessness, often have complex and underlying health concerns and yet are not regularly engaged with primary and preventive health care,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“This can be due to financial barriers, difficulty in accessing primary healthcare services or poor experiences with healthcare providers in the past.
“By bringing ‘Chat to PAT’ to the Early Morning Centre, we are ensuring more Canberrans can access primary and preventive health services, helping to combat chronic disease and improve people’s overall health and wellbeing.”
The ACT Government has funded Directions Health Services since 2021 to deliver the PAT mobile clinic, which provides an array of supports including mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, social support, case management and GP services.
It is staffed by a carefully recruited and trained interdisciplinary team of a GP, nurse and AOD counsellor.
The mobile clinic started delivering services at the Early Morning Centre last month and is located directly outside the premises every Monday from 9am until noon. It replaces the previous two-hour weekly primary health care service supported by the Capital Health Network.
The PAT mobile clinic services the Early Morning Centre at the same time as the Orange Sky ‘Frosty’ van, which provides people with free laundry washing services.
“These two organisations are able to leverage the strong relationships and trust they have built with vulnerable members of the community to ensure people feel safe accessing support, improving their overall health and wellbeing,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
Quotes attributable to Directions Health Services CEO, Bronwyn Hendry:
“Directions is really pleased to partner with Early Morning Centre to increase access to health services for their clients.
“This weekly service to the EMC is even more critical now as the reduction in the number of GPs who bulk bill in the Canberra has meant it is more difficult for marginalised people to access the health services they need.
“We know people who are homeless experience complex health issues, and this is a great opportunity to connect with them and support them to address their health and wellbeing needs.”
Quotes attributable to UnitingCare Canberra City Director, Nicole Wiggins:
“The EMC is pleased to be working with Directions ACT’s Chat to Pat bus that will allow our vulnerable clients easy access to health care services.
“Clients that use the EMC are some of the most marginalised and vulnerable in the Canberra community, who need ease of access to health care services.
“The Chat to Pat mobile clinic providing services from the EMC will assist our clients with complex health issues to receive the medical help many of them urgently need.
“EMC guests have difficulty accessing health services and as a result have poor health outcomes. The Chat to Pat clinic at the EMC will assist to address this issue and result in improved health outcomes for our most vulnerable clients.”
