On Monday the Grattan Institute released a report that said hospitalisation rates for diabetes, tooth decay and other conditions that should be treatable or manageable out of hospital showed how Australia’s health system is consistently failing some communities.

They named Mount Isa as one of the “hot spots” they examined in Queensland and Victoria having “appalling” potentially preventable hospitalisation rates at least fifty percent above the state average in every year for a decade.  

The report said reducing potentially preventable hospitalisations in those hot spots would save at least $15 million a year. 

“The problem can be addressed, but only if governments come up with targeted solutions for individual places.” the report authors said.

“Australia is not a uniform country and a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Local, tailored policy responses are required.”

The report said it was the responsibility of primary health networks to address health needs but their report provided a methodology for identifying places like Mount Isa with a persistent but reducible problem.

North West Health and Hospital Board chair, Paul Woodhouse said the report confirmed the direction the NWHHS was taking in conjunction with local governments, Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN) and other key service providers in joint service planning and joint priority setting.

“This is exactly what we’ve been pointing to in our Strategic Plan as a result of exhaustive consultation with staff and communities and other key service providers,” Mr Woodhouse said.

“We can confirm what the Grattan Report has identified and the board has already moved to reviewing our primary and community health service delivery.”

Mr Woodhouse said the board agreed with the Grattan Institute saying more effort should be made in prevention and reduction of preventable hospital admissions.

“We’ll be working closely with the WQPHN and its providers and communities to not only meet the needs of our communities, but to meet their aspirations as well,” he said.

State member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter said more targeted funding was needed for areas such as Mount Isa where there are clear disparities in health but it was not just a matter of throwing dollars at the situation.

“There are a complex set of circumstances which contribute to the preventable hospitalisation rates in Mount Isa being at least 50% above the state average,” Mr Katter said.

“I’d say about 20% of those people are in that situation because of social issues and dysfunction, which can be attributed in part to a lack of employment opportunities.

“If someone is in work, or have an expectation of finding work, they are more likely to be looking after themselves much better.”

Mr Katter said groups such as MICRRH (Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health) were well placed to affect change with their focus and knowledge on the challenges of rural health.

“But it’s also as much about attitude, and empowering people to live a healthier, more active lifestyle through awareness and education,” he said.

MICRRH director Professor Sabina Knight told national ABC yesterday the report was an opportunity to focus in a much more targeted and sustainable way.

“We’ve actually got quite well distributed hospital services but I think it's quite reasonable to say that we've got very poorly distributed primary care services and in some areas there aren't any at all and you rely on the hospital services as the default,” Ms Knight said.