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Chronic pain healthcare centre opens in Karratha

Shannon BeattiePilbara News
Pilbara Physiotherapy owner David Rigby, WA Primary Health Allicance regional manager - Pilbara Winny Henry and Panaceum group chief executive Richard Skyes at the new Pilbara Health Centre.
Camera IconPilbara Physiotherapy owner David Rigby, WA Primary Health Allicance regional manager - Pilbara Winny Henry and Panaceum group chief executive Richard Skyes at the new Pilbara Health Centre. Credit: Shannon Beattie

Those suffering from chronic pain are set to have easier access to a raft of services which have previously been notoriously difficult to keep in the Pilbara.

The Integrated Chronic Disease Care program, which is funded through the WA Primary Health Alliance, has been running in the Pilbara for almost two years and allows those on it to obtain some services free.

However, some of those services have not always been present.

Now Panaceum Group has teamed up with Pilbara Physiotherapy to open the Pilbara Health Centre in Karratha on Hedland Place, which will deliver physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics, diabetes education, psychology and care co-ordination.

Those on the ICDC are classified as financially or geographically vulnerable and will have free access to all of these services, except psychology.

Panaceum chief executive Richard Sykes said the new centre allowed the funded program to continue, but it would now also offer key private services the region doesn’t have.

“We’ve had some issues with the funded program where we haven’t had clinicians here all the time, we’ve now got that because we’ve taken more control,” he said.

“If people aren’t eligible for the funded program, they can still see the specialists, there might be a small gap to pay over Medicare, but anyone can access it.”

Pilbara Physiotherapy has offered services as part of the ICDC since it started in the region, but it will now be more involved, stepping in to a care and co-ordination role and offering more options than before.

Owner David Rigby said as well as the chronic care and care and co-ordination role, Pilbara Physiotherapy also has a specialised gym.

“Clients that qualify for the ICDC program will have access to the gym free of charge and it will allow us to offer supervised cardiac and strengthening programs for people with chronic diseases,” he said.

Bookings for physiotherapy and dietetics are available, while the other services are due to start over the coming months.

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