To support the community during the 2024 winter season, we offered grant opportunities to accredited general practices across the local government areas of Blacktown, The Hills Shire, Parramatta and Cumberland. The grants were offered to support the delivery of COVID-19 and Flu vaccination clinics, either in practice or community, to vulnerable patient groups.
The clinics target those living within residential aged care homes and disability group homes, older people living independently, first nations, culturally and linguistically diverse patients, and people experiencing homelessness.
The funding provides nursing and administration support, so practices have the workforce capacity to bolster vaccination activity ahead of the winter months.
This round of grants has been part of a rolling campaign that was initiated back in early 2022. The initiative has seen us coming together with local general practice, residential aged care homes and homeless support organisations to enhance access across the region for those most in need.
One of the providers we have commissioned with the grant funding is Street Side Medics. They strive to alleviate the burdens faced by the homeless community of NSW in accessing primary health care. Their service operates from a mobile medical van fitted with all the necessary equipment and a GP on board. Street Side Medics target areas with a large homeless population to improve patient uptake. The van can be found at the same time, in the same place each week.
Locations
The Street Side Medics van currently visits two locations in Western Sydney on a weekly basis. The locations are:
- Alpha Park, Alpha Street, Blacktown on Saturdays from 3:45pm-5:45pm
- Prince Alfred Square, 353D Church Street, Parramatta on Sundays from 3:45pm-5:45pm
Services Offered
Street Side Medics patients are bulk-billed to ensure there is no personal cost regardless of Medicare status.
Services offered to patients include:
- Health examinations
- Diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions
- Establishing health care plans
- Immunisations
- Pathology services
- Nutritional advice
- Minor surgical procedures
- Referrals to other providers
For more information, please visit the Street Side Medics website.
Information is correct as of 27 June 2024.