Dr Adrian Gilliland shares some key Healthy North Coast achievements as well as state and national developments affecting the local primary health landscape.
It’s with great pleasure that I share some updates from Healthy North Coast, showcasing our commitment to fostering healthier communities and driving impactful change. As the Chair of Healthy North Coast, I look forward to regularly updating fellow clinicians of the work our local Primary Health Network is delivering across the region.
In March, Healthy North Coast launched their Healthy Ageing Strategy, incorporating innovative Systems Dynamic Modelling.
Partnerships are being strengthened across the region with the finalisation of the Joint Regional Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) plan and signing off on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with both Local Health Districts. It is hoped the Plan and MOU will bring primary and acute together to deliver integrated health care for our community. I recognise Monika Wheeler, CEO, and Aimee McNeill, Director Integrated Wellbeing, for spearheading these initiatives.
I’ve been involved in developing national standards for health provider digital communication via the Sparked FHIR initiative and collaborating with NSW PHNs and the RACGP on webinars regarding the My Medicare rollout, with potential joint projects in the future.
At a national level, it has been pleasing to see primary care and mental health, being a key focus for current health reform, particularly with regard to affordability and access for priority populations. Key areas of focus include digital mental health, social prescribing, disadvantaged women, young people in their early years, LGTBQI+, and aged care. Other initiatives include expanding bowel and lung cancer screening and addressing alcohol and obesity concerns.
The National Health Reform Agreement negotiations between Commonwealth and States continue, with accountability for Primary Health Networks (PHNs) being included in future agreements. A nationally consistent governance framework is being established, emphasising integration between Local Health Networks (LHNs), PHNs, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), with a focus on safety, quality, and patient pathways.
The Scope of Practice review, addressing legislative, regulatory, and funding barriers, is also progressing, with solutions like delegated MBS items, block funding models and State legislative changes being explored.
PHN meetings with NSW Health ministers and ongoing advocacy efforts are aiming to address issues such as primary care access to the NSW Electronic Health Record (EPIC) and concerns regarding payroll tax.
The ANAO report on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s management of PHNs underscores the need for increased transparency, accountability, and performance measures aligned with objectives, reflecting a constrained funding environment and heightened scrutiny. This is aligned with our PHN’s strategy and objectives and, if we use the right outcome measures, can highlight the value for money of primary and community care. Proving the prevention of an event is harder than proving mitigation of an existing event.
In conclusion, the journey toward healthier communities is a collective effort, and I’m immensely proud of the progress we have made together. It’s a long journey though and requires ongoing advocacy and effort. Thank you for all your ongoing work and support which makes this possible.