ACCESS to holistic diabetes care for rural and remote communities across the Hunter and New England regions is set to improve with the launch of a new custom-built medibus, with visits to Narrabri, Wee Waa and Tamworth planned.

The Medibus is a fully equipped mobile health clinic which brings specialist multi-disciplinary teams to towns with limited access to healthcare, including endocrinologists, a diabetes educator, Aboriginal health worker, dietitian and podiatrist.

These clinical teams support patients directly and upskill local General Practitioners, nurses and allied health providers to provide gold-standard diabetes care and management within the primary care sector.

Diabetes remains one of the most critical health challenges for the Hunter and New England regions, with an estimated one in eight people living with the condition, and many more undiagnosed.

If left unmanaged, diabetes can result in serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputations, and premature death.

Diabetes disproportionately impacts those living in low socio-economic communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

The schedule for the medibus includes:

Narrabri: 17-18 June

Wee Waa: 19 June

Newcastle: July

Lower Mid North Coast: 12-15 August

Tamworth: 16-19 September

Upper Hunter: 27 October-7 November

Lower Mid North Coast: 17–19 November

Access to the Medibus is via GP or healthcare provider referral.

The Medibus is an initiative of the Diabetes Alliance Program Plus, first established in 2015 by Hunter New England Local Health District and the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network.

In 2023, a five-year, $12.4 million donation from the Colonial Foundation enabled the program to expand.

This included welcoming new partners, including the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle, to lead innovative research and evaluate the program’s impact on patient outcomes and the broader health system.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, said Diabetes is a significant challenge, particularly in rural and remote areas.

“I applaud this initiative which will reduce travel burdens, improve health outcomes, and support both patients and healthcare professionals,” Mr Park said.

“This bus is a significant step forward in ensuring all communities have equitable access to expert, evidence-based diabetes care.

“I am really glad this bus will make stops in Wee Waa, Narrabri, Tamworth, the Lower Mid North Coast, and the Upper Hunter this year.”