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Townsville Community Health Service
Townsville Community Health Service (TCHS) provides a range of coordinated nursing and allied services for adult clients within a defined local Townsville catchment.
This catchment includes:
- Early, coordinated discharge care for inpatients
- After-hospital care services
- Short-term therapy or group-based interventions
Staff engage with you, your carer and family, your doctor and other health professionals to make sure you receive the most effective and appropriate care. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients can access cultural support and advocacy across all programs of Townsville Community Health Service. Clients are offered our Health Worker’s support at the time of referral, or, a client can ask for it at any stage during care.
Townsville Community Health Service provides free interpreters for persons from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Post-acute care
Post-acute care services are for clients who have been discharged from hospital or an emergency department but who still require short term care and support (a maximum of 2 weeks). Referrals can only be arranged by a hospital clinician during your hospital or emergency department stay:
- Post-Acute Nursing Care (PANC)
- Post-Acute Wound Clinic
- Community Intravenous Program (Community IV)
Should longer term support be required, clinicians will help you access other services.
Referral support to community services are arranged while an inpatient at the TUH by the following services:
- Discharge Coordination
- Community Hospital Interface Program (CHIP)
- Veterans' Liaison Officer
Enquiries
You are welcome to contact our Central Intake Nurse to discuss eligibility for service. General eligibility criteria includes:
- Over 18 years of age
- You are, or have recently been an inpatient at Townsville University Hospital
- GP or health professional referral
The Central Intake staff will help in the following ways:
- Speak with you on the phone to identify your health needs
- Arrange for a health professional to contact you to further discuss your health needs
- Provide links between you, your doctor and any other people who provide your care
Is there a cost?
Generally, no, but costs will apply for:
- Some health education literature and cooking education sessions
- Podiatry service if orthotics require casting
Townsville Community Allied Health Team
Townsville Community Allied Health Team enhances function, independence and safety of people over 18 years of age, and their support persons, living in the community.
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The primary client group is any adult and/or older person experiencing chronic and/or aging health conditions, who have difficulty functioning in their usual environment.
The allied health disciplines include occupational therapists, speech pathologists, podiatrists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians and therapy assistants who provide:
- assessment, education and treatment for individuals to enable clients to remain living well within the home
- group education to enhance knowledge and skills for healthy lifestyles
- assistance to support individual client's services and with the management of difficult or complex issues
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health teams focus on Indigenous Cultural Support (ICS), the National Indigenous Pneumococcal and Influenza Immunisation program (NIPII) and the group education program Healthy Ways.
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service community health service provides an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural support program to clients to help them navigate their care under community health.
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Referrals
Townsville Community Health Service supports referrals from healthcare providers (both from the acute and community sector), as well as from individuals and their families. Referral available via our Central Intake Nurse and bookings team:
Townsville Community Allied Health Team
Ph: (07) 4433 9500
Send referral to: Send Email
Hearing Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program
Ph: (07) 4433 9000
Community Assessment and Case Management (CACM)
Send referral to: Send Email
Central Intake Nurse
Ph: (07) 4433 9500
Fax: (07) 4433 9271
Send referral to: Send Email
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our health facilities have been built and on which we meet today.
We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge.