News
New Primary Health Proposal
Consultation Begins
A new proposal that could see primary health services integrate with the district health board in South Canterbury was widely accepted at a meeting of general practice owners last night.
The Primary Health Establishment Board consulted with GPs and others in the primary health care sector on a new primary health model that it believes could replace the present primary health organisation -Aoraki PHO - when it is disbanded on April 30.
The Establishment Board is a group of experts brought together by the district health board to consult with primary care and advise district health board members on a path forward. It was set up late last year following a decision by the South Canterbury DHB board to disestablish Aoraki PHO.
The Establishment Board’s proposal will see general practices and other primary health providers integrate with the district health board to form a strong relationship with the services currently provided through Timaru Hospital. The new service will be called “Primary Care and Community Services”. Both the hospital and primary care will be led by a general manager and clinical leaders acting in partnership.
The benefits of integrating primary care with the DHB include a closer working relationship between the DHB and general practices, more clinical leadership, and the removal of a level of bureaucracy. It will also make district health board members more accountable for what happens in primary care and will allow greater integration of hospital and community services -- while recognising that the underlying business models of the hospital and general practice are different.
District health board chairman Murray Cleverley supports the new model proposed by the Establishment Board.
“The reason we set out on this journey was to provide better, sooner, more convenient health care to South Canterbury people,” he says.
“I am very pleased that the Establishment Board has thought outside the square and come up with a model that will deliver the very best in quality care. The DHB board are very supportive of the new model and pleased that a number of primary care providers have already expressed their support for the proposal.
“But at the end of the day, primary care is not owned by the DHB, the businesses are owned by a variety of people including general practitioners, pharmacists, investors, and not-for-profit organisations. We are all here for the benefit of our community. That is why it’s important that primary care and the wider community are consulted and ultimately supportive of the models we adopt.”
Meetings are planned in the coming weeks to consult with stakeholders and produce a more detailed transition plan. This plan is expected to go before district health board members and stakeholders for approval in late February or early March.
South Canterbury DHB Chief Executive Chris Fleming says the DHB is ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of the population of South Canterbury and recognises it must work closely and in collaboration with primary care providers to get the best results. Before any changes are made within primary care it is crucial that GPs and other primary care providers support the outcome.
“At a conceptual level these recommendations have significant merit, particularly in a relatively small population like South Canterbury. The model will lead to innovative solutions being developed collectively. There is, however, a lot of detail to be worked through including the impact on staff, the relationships with Southlink Health, the structure of clinical leadership and the role of the Board Advisory Committees. It is vital that these details are worked through between the DHB, the Establishment Board and primary care to ensure this works for all involved including the community”.
Background
Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) are funded on a capitation basis by the New Zealand Government via district health boards. They are usually set up as not-for-profit trusts and have as their goal the improvement of their population's health. Aoraki Primary Health Organisation is the only PHO operating in South Canterbury.
Last March, South Canterbury DHB received an application from South Link Health to establish a new primary health organisation in this district. Three months later a number of general practitioners wrote to SCDHB expressing a loss of confidence in Aoraki PHO.
In August, SCDHB board members decided to decline the proposal from South Link Health and get a group of experts together (the Establishment Board) to design a new primary health environment in South Canterbury. An exit notice was issued to Aoraki PHO with an exit date of April 30, 2010.
The members of the primary health establishment board are:
• Chairman Tony Shaw, from Timpany Walton Lawyers in Timaru
• Professor Murray Tilyard, a GP and now Professor of General Practice
• Dr Bruce Small, Timaru GP
• Paul Townend, Waimate Pharmacist
• Sam Powell, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health at SCDHB
The recommendations of the establishment board were presented to SCDHB board members and to general practitioners this month.
Recommendations from the Establishment Board
1. That primary care becomes an operating unit, or “arm”, of the SCDHB and not an external organisation.
2. That the primary care arm be called “Primary Care and Community Services”.
3. That a process be developed to transition services to Primary Care and Community Services in an agreed timeframe. These may include services within the existing PHO, other contracted organisations, or services within SCDHB’s current operating units.
4. That Primary Care and Community Services be at the same level within SCDHB as Clinical Services (Timaru Hospital).
5. That a general manager be appointed based on the proposed future services portfolio.
6. That functions of the SCDHB adapt their service parameters to include the Primary Care and Community Services unit and their contracted providers where appropriate.
7. That SCDHB re-evaluate the roles and structures of Board advisory groups to ensure they reflect skill based appointment with primary care as one skill set.
8. That systems are developed to unite planning processes to remove duplication of process and service delivery.
9. That SCDHB employ or contract a Chief Primary Care Officer as part of the senior management team.
10. That clinical leadership be developed within South Canterbury and recognised in the design, implementation and improvement of services.
Contact Information
To speak to the SCDHB chief executive contact:
Arlene Goss
Communications Advisor
Ph 03 684 1395
027 276 4259
To speak to the chair of the Establishment Board contact:
Tony Shaw
TimpanyWalton
Ph (03) 687 7397
(027) 222 5474
To speak to a Timaru GP who is also a member of the Establishment Board contact:
Dr Bruce Small
Ph (03) 688 6267
(027) 249 7328
A new proposal that could see primary health services integrate with the district health board in South Canterbury was widely accepted at a meeting of general practice owners last night.
The Primary Health Establishment Board consulted with GPs and others in the primary health care sector on a new primary health model that it believes could replace the present primary health organisation -Aoraki PHO - when it is disbanded on April 30.
The Establishment Board is a group of experts brought together by the district health board to consult with primary care and advise district health board members on a path forward. It was set up late last year following a decision by the South Canterbury DHB board to disestablish Aoraki PHO.
The Establishment Board’s proposal will see general practices and other primary health providers integrate with the district health board to form a strong relationship with the services currently provided through Timaru Hospital. The new service will be called “Primary Care and Community Services”. Both the hospital and primary care will be led by a general manager and clinical leaders acting in partnership.
The benefits of integrating primary care with the DHB include a closer working relationship between the DHB and general practices, more clinical leadership, and the removal of a level of bureaucracy. It will also make district health board members more accountable for what happens in primary care and will allow greater integration of hospital and community services -- while recognising that the underlying business models of the hospital and general practice are different.
District health board chairman Murray Cleverley supports the new model proposed by the Establishment Board.
“The reason we set out on this journey was to provide better, sooner, more convenient health care to South Canterbury people,” he says.
“I am very pleased that the Establishment Board has thought outside the square and come up with a model that will deliver the very best in quality care. The DHB board are very supportive of the new model and pleased that a number of primary care providers have already expressed their support for the proposal.
“But at the end of the day, primary care is not owned by the DHB, the businesses are owned by a variety of people including general practitioners, pharmacists, investors, and not-for-profit organisations. We are all here for the benefit of our community. That is why it’s important that primary care and the wider community are consulted and ultimately supportive of the models we adopt.”
Meetings are planned in the coming weeks to consult with stakeholders and produce a more detailed transition plan. This plan is expected to go before district health board members and stakeholders for approval in late February or early March.
South Canterbury DHB Chief Executive Chris Fleming says the DHB is ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of the population of South Canterbury and recognises it must work closely and in collaboration with primary care providers to get the best results. Before any changes are made within primary care it is crucial that GPs and other primary care providers support the outcome.
“At a conceptual level these recommendations have significant merit, particularly in a relatively small population like South Canterbury. The model will lead to innovative solutions being developed collectively. There is, however, a lot of detail to be worked through including the impact on staff, the relationships with Southlink Health, the structure of clinical leadership and the role of the Board Advisory Committees. It is vital that these details are worked through between the DHB, the Establishment Board and primary care to ensure this works for all involved including the community”.
Background
Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) are funded on a capitation basis by the New Zealand Government via district health boards. They are usually set up as not-for-profit trusts and have as their goal the improvement of their population's health. Aoraki Primary Health Organisation is the only PHO operating in South Canterbury.
Last March, South Canterbury DHB received an application from South Link Health to establish a new primary health organisation in this district. Three months later a number of general practitioners wrote to SCDHB expressing a loss of confidence in Aoraki PHO.
In August, SCDHB board members decided to decline the proposal from South Link Health and get a group of experts together (the Establishment Board) to design a new primary health environment in South Canterbury. An exit notice was issued to Aoraki PHO with an exit date of April 30, 2010.
The members of the primary health establishment board are:
• Chairman Tony Shaw, from Timpany Walton Lawyers in Timaru
• Professor Murray Tilyard, a GP and now Professor of General Practice
• Dr Bruce Small, Timaru GP
• Paul Townend, Waimate Pharmacist
• Sam Powell, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health at SCDHB
The recommendations of the establishment board were presented to SCDHB board members and to general practitioners this month.
Recommendations from the Establishment Board
1. That primary care becomes an operating unit, or “arm”, of the SCDHB and not an external organisation.
2. That the primary care arm be called “Primary Care and Community Services”.
3. That a process be developed to transition services to Primary Care and Community Services in an agreed timeframe. These may include services within the existing PHO, other contracted organisations, or services within SCDHB’s current operating units.
4. That Primary Care and Community Services be at the same level within SCDHB as Clinical Services (Timaru Hospital).
5. That a general manager be appointed based on the proposed future services portfolio.
6. That functions of the SCDHB adapt their service parameters to include the Primary Care and Community Services unit and their contracted providers where appropriate.
7. That SCDHB re-evaluate the roles and structures of Board advisory groups to ensure they reflect skill based appointment with primary care as one skill set.
8. That systems are developed to unite planning processes to remove duplication of process and service delivery.
9. That SCDHB employ or contract a Chief Primary Care Officer as part of the senior management team.
10. That clinical leadership be developed within South Canterbury and recognised in the design, implementation and improvement of services.
Contact Information
To speak to the SCDHB chief executive contact:
Arlene Goss
Communications Advisor
Ph 03 684 1395
027 276 4259
To speak to the chair of the Establishment Board contact:
Tony Shaw
TimpanyWalton
Ph (03) 687 7397
(027) 222 5474
To speak to a Timaru GP who is also a member of the Establishment Board contact:
Dr Bruce Small
Ph (03) 688 6267
(027) 249 7328