FINALIST – 2023 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards !
Merri Health staff received finalist certificate .
We were thrilled to be a finalist in the 2023 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards !
Our free Chronic Pain Service ( CPS ) was recognised in the Care Closer to Home award category .
Chronic and persistent pain affects 1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and over . Alongside debilitating pain comes an increased risk of depression , anxiety , poor self-esteem and social isolation .
CPS is improving longterm health and wellbeing outcomes for clients , reducing care wait times and easing the pressure on hospital waitlists .
2022 data confirms the CPS ’ excellent results with :
83 % of patients reporting at least some overall improvement
77.8 % reporting an improvement in their physical abilities
60 % reporting a clinically significant improvement in anxiety
72.7 % making a clinically significant improvement in how pain interferes with their daily life
100 % of respondents saying the pain service positively influenced other areas of their life , work and / or relationships
100 % of respondents agreeing they would recommend the service to a friend
“ It was very effective ! It has greatly helped me in managing my stress and anxiety related to pain and as a consequence reduced the pain itself .”
CPS client
We ’ re proud of this achievement , the dedication and innovation shown by our team and the ongoing support of our funding partner North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network ( NWMPHN ).
If you would like to find out more ,
please call 1300 637 744 ,
email service . acess @ merrihealth . org . au , or
visit our website .
MerriNews December 2023 – January 2024 | 3 .