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Urapuntja Health Service
Location:
280 km from Alice Springs, 180km on a dirt road and 100km sealed.
Category:
Medical Student
Population:
Approx 1000
Major Language Groups:
Alyawarra and Antimere, Alyawarra being the main one
Description:
Urapuntja Health Service, is an independent health service funded by OATSIH
Doctors do primary on call in rotation with nursing staff, 1:4 rotation weeknights and 1:3 weekends. Weekend on call includes roster of on call Fri pm- Sunday am with next on call shift taking Sun am – Tues am. This arrangement is flexible. Once per month there is opportunity to go to A/Springs, Thursday clinic run to outstation on way to Alice. Then go to Alice and do mails, pathology drop offs and pick up clinic stores. Fri, Sat Sun can then be spent in Alice partial travel allowance paid by health service.
The primary mode of service delivery is through outstation visits.
The Clinic is open 9.00 to 5.00 Mon-Fri
Paediatrician; Physiotherapist; Dentist; Mental Health Team (Including Psychiatrist); Nutritionist all visit 2 or more times per year. Funding has been made available to improve/expand the number and type of allied health professional visits.
Road:
The drive takes 3-3.5 hrs during the dry season and up to 6 hrs during the wet season. 4WD is necessary during the wet season and road closures do occur.
Air:
Independent Charters can be organised from Alice Springs Airport
Seasonal Access:
Subject to flooding
Outstations Serviced:
The outstation communities are spread out over some 3230 square km of desert along the (dirt only) Sandover Highway some 250 km north east of Alice Springs.
Tommyhawk Swamp
Amengernterneah
Ngkwarlerlanem
Arlparra
Ankerrapw
Pingalayntima Health Centre
