Eye health services for Aboriginal people in the western region of NSW, 2010.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the availability, accessibility and uptake of eye health services for Aboriginal people in western NSW in 2010.


METHODS
The use of document review, observational visits, key stakeholder consultation and service data reviews, including number of cataract operations performed, to determine regional service availability and use.


RESULTS
Aboriginal people in western NSW have a lower uptake of tertiary eye health services, with cataract surgery rates of 1750 per million for Aboriginal people and 9702 per million for non-Aboriginal people. Public ophthalmology clinics increase access to tertiary services for Aboriginal people.


CONCLUSIONS
Eye health services are not equally available and accessible for Aboriginal people in western NSW. Increasing the availability of culturally competent public ophthalmology clinics may increase access to tertiary ophthalmology services for Aboriginal people. The report of the review was published online, and outlines a list of recommendations.
NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, NSW Ministry of Health. lmahe@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Louise
L
Maher
Anthony M
AM
Brown
Siranda
S
Torvaldsen
Angela J
AJ
Dawson
Jillian A
JA
Patterson
Glenda
G
Lawrence
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*