MEMBER BULLETIN
Yesterday the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, released stage two of the Federal
Government’s National Health Reform Plan, A National Health and Hospitals Network:
Further Investments in Australia’s Health.
Four key areas are covered within this report:
- Hospitals - to reduce waiting times for emergency departments and elective surgery
- General practice (GP) and primary health care - to improve access to GP services, tackle chronic disease and keep Australians healthy and out of hospital
- Workforce - to ensure there are more health professionals to meet the growing need for health and hospital services across the country
- Aged care - to improve there are more health professionals to meet the growing need for health and hospital services across the country
- Building the National Health and Hospitals Network
This document pulls together the various announcements made by the Government since it began its responses last month to the numerous reviews of Australia's health system. It includes details of yesterday's announcements, including the announcement that Primary Health Care Organisations (PHCOs) will evolve from the General Practice Network (Divisions), and aged care initiatives, as well as recent announcements about diabetes and the medical workforce.
These reforms, along with those announced on 3 March 2010, form the package of reforms agreement is being sought on at the April Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The Prime Minister decided to release this document in the lead-up to COAG next Monday, to demonstrate the breath of the reform agenda and how the various elements fit together.
A copy of the report highlighting these reforms can be found at the following link: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/nhhn-report-2 or from www.ergpa.com.au/news
Further detail on PHCOs, as well as on GPs and primary health care more broadly, can be found in Chapter Two: GP and Primary Health Care, which begins on Page 36.
Members should be pleased with the Network's progress to date. By working together and demonstrating a unified position where we have been prepared to be at the table contributing solutions to the health system's dilemmas, we have positioned ourselves well for the future. This includes:
- placing GPs and general practice at the forefront of the health system, and the centre of the reform process
- positioning general practice networks to evolve as PHCOs, with the initial wave of PHCOs to be established by mid 2011, and the others to follow in 2012
- generating support for additional funding in areas such as diabetes and workforce, and with more announcements to follow
Yesterday's announcement provided an outline of the future scenario involving PHCOs. Further detail is expected to be announced in the budget on 11 May 2010. This announcement has already been endorsed by the RACGP, AMA and Pharmacy Guild.
Next Steps
1. The Board of Directors is holding a briefing meeting for Members on Tuesday 18 May (following on from the Federal Budget).
This meeting will allow members the chance to discuss with Directors and the CEO the future of both general practice and the Division under the proposed changes to the system, and to hear the results of the Federal Budget. To register to attend this event please click here.
2. The Board of Directors will be meeting with individual practices and GP Members over the coming months to discuss the changes at a local level with you, and/or your practice team.
This opportunity will allow you to speak one-on-one with a Director about your practice, your view of the Division and how you believe things should be moving forward.
You will receive invites to each of these events in the mail over the following weeks. If you would like more information or to discuss the reforms and local progress please contact:
Dr Barbara Inness, Chair: chair@ergpa.com.au
or
Kristin Michaels, CEO: ceo@ergpa.com.au or 9871 1000
Yours sincerely
Kristin Michaels
Chief Executive Officer
13 April 2010