MEDIA RELEASE
COAG primary health care agreement a winner
The silent victory from this week's COAG meeting is the bringing together of community health centres and primary mental health with general practice and other primary health care, which will help address the health concerns of locals well into the future, says Eastern Ranges GP Association CEO Ms Kristin Michaels.
"This is the outcome we were hoping to come out of COAG and we are happy that these long overdue measures will be introduced to help overcome current gaps and boundary difficulties to provide more integrated, seamless care to consumers," said Ms Michaels.
She also said that despite hospitals taking much of the media attention during COAG the primary health care sector is the pillar of the health system where real improvements to the local community's health system could be made.
"By the Commonwealth taking responsibility for funding and policy for all primary health care for our local area, and with the establishment of primary health care organisations to take more responsibility for ensuring the integration of these services, we will see a more joined-up system, leading to better health outcomes for the community," said Ms Michaels.
The reforms also mean that more people can access the medical attention they need in the community, in their own homes and work towards reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
"Now that COAG is over and attention is shifting away from hospitals, it is time to get on with the real work and reform in the local areas health care, and that is with prevention, health promotion, chronic disease management through general practice and general practice related services under the newly outlined primary health care organisations," said Ms Michaels.
Earlier this month the Prime Minister indicated that primary health care organisations would evolve from the Australian General Practice Network which Eastern Ranges GP Association is a member of.
"Over time we believe that primary health care organisations can take on increasing responsibility and funding for a range of services and programs which in the Eastern Ranges has been traditionally seen as hospital services but which in areas outside of Australia are now managed more cost effectively, and with better patient outcomes in their communities," said Ms Michaels.
Ms Michaels said the past few weeks of listening to Premiers debate alternative models and fight for further funding had been frustrating for clinicians and the community but reform was needed and while not always easy was worth doing right.
"We know that more people in Australia end up in hospital unnecessarily than in most other OECD countries. We know that there are large numbers of our population who can't access adequate health services. We also know we can do a lot to address these inequalities," said Ms Michaels.
The Federal takeover of all primary health care funding will improve communication and coordination of patient care.
"It is a move that just makes sense. Community health, mental health, child and maternal health are all interconnected with general practice and the care we provide. Bringing these groups together will see clear benefits for patients in access, coordination and healthier people," said Ms Michaels.
She also said that primary health care is the most effective care available and the community has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fix our system which should be embraced.
CONTACT: Kristin Michaels, CEO, Ph: 9871 1000
ISSUED: 22 April 2010