By Learne Durrington, CEO WA Primary Health Alliance
Big thinking, data and purposeful partnerships are a key theme of our 2018-19 Year in Review.
This year, I am delighted to say our state-wide structure and strong partnerships have allowed us to shape a health system fit for the future, with a focus on helping those at risk of poor health outcomes to access excellent care closer to home.
As the operator of WA’s three Primary Health Networks – part of the Australian Government’s national PHN program – our role is to plan, guide and direct investment towards important primary healthcare services.
This year, I am particularly pleased to let you know that we increased the number of people accessing our funded mental health services to 10,716, a 67% year on year increase.
Some of my other personal highlights of 2018-19 are:
- Brokering a solution to the urgent care conundrum, to deliver a model of urgent care that recognised the capacity and capability that exists within general practice. This was achieved in partnership with Department of Health WA, Australian Medical Association (WA), Royal Australian College of General Practitioners WA Faculty and the College of Emergency Medicine.
- Increasing our support for general practice, with 442 practices partnering with us to share and better understand their patient data and improve health outcomes, and 99 practices participating in our transformational change program, Comprehensive Primary Care.
- Leveraging our unique position as a trusted partner across the health system, we have played and continue to play a pivotal role in the State Government’s Sustainable Health Review, facilitating the involvement of primary care and ensuring it remains central to the Review’s implementation.
I hope you enjoy reading our 2018-19 Year in Review.