TAMWORTH could be seen as ground zero for heart disease in NSW.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Heart Foundation hand-picked Tamworth as the first site in NSW to host its professional ambassador program.
Previously, this program has only been launched on a state and territory-wide basis, but it is understood it will be offered exclusively to New England medicos.
READ MORE:
The scheme, which is being launched in conjunction with the upcoming 2000 hearts symposium, will train local professionals to help manage heart disease within the region.
Through the Heart Foundation's ambassador program, the region's chosen doctors will get access to the "latest evidence and advances in practice for patients living with or at risk of heart disease".
The foundation's NSW heart health manager Scott Walsberger said Tamworth had been chosen for the program because of the city's "much higher rates of death from heart disease".
He said the foundation would choose the ambassadors for the region mainly from general practice, Aboriginal health services and potentially physiotherapy.
The ambassadors would be trained to help identify people at risk, manage and reduce heart disease in the region.
Initial plans have the scheme running in Tamworth through 2020, but Mr Walsberger said, depending on the need of the community, it could be extended.
Heart health is front of mind for the region's health corps presently with the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) hosting the first-of-its-kind symposium for local medicos next week.
The "2000 hearts" conference will feature presentations from leaders in general practice, nursing and cardiology.
The PHN has set a lofty outcome from the event: to help delay and prevent at least 2000 cardiovascular disease related deaths in the region.
People can still register to attend the event online.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
