A new report has painted an alarming picture of the health of Illawarra residents.
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According to the region's draft health plan, people in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven are more likely than the average NSW resident to be risk-drinkers, overweight, or obese.
They are also more likely to be experiencing psychological distress and to be hospitalised for attempted suicide.
The region also has a relatively higher proportion of potentially avoidable hospitalisations than the state average - and the gap is increasing.
The statistics were outlined in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District's draft health care services plan for 2012-2022 which was released yesterday.
The health district's director of operations, planning and performance Michelle Noort said the health of the population influenced the demand for services.
"The data paints a sad picture of the health status of a range of our residents," she said. "Whether it's risk-taking behaviour that leads to chronic disease, potentially preventable hospitalisations, or the health status of Aborigines - it compels us to look at what we can do and how we can make it easier for people to look after themselves."
Ms Noort said the unacceptable variations in health risks, status and outcomes between groups within the district provided a number of challenges.
The report revealed the risk of cancer death was higher than the state average in Shellharbour, but lower in Kiama.
The Shoalhaven, meantime, had an "extraordinarily high" avoidable mortality rate for motor vehicle injuries.
"The data is telling us we need to keep plugging away - we already have a range of strategies in place but we need to do more work around preventative health and activity," Ms Noort said.
The draft plan proposes a "hub and spoke" model, with Wollongong, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven hospitals the central hubs and other hospitals, health services and professionals the spokes in the wheel.
"We want to make sure people are getting the right care in the right place," Ms Noort said. "Increasingly the bricks and mortar of hospitals are a stopover for highly specialised treatment, while an enormous amount of service delivery occurs outside that acute environment."
Feedback on the plan is being sought until August 31. Visit islhd.health.nsw.gov.au for more information.