Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Reform of Primary Health and Community Support Services

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Rob Knowles, has announced a $40-million reform over four years of Primary Health and Community Support Services.

The reforms will involve a wide range of publicly funded services such as doctors, community health centres, dental care, hospitals, aged care, mental health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychologists, in-home help and health screening."People won’t have to themselves do the legwork to discover the right health agencies to go to, repeat their history to each, and then make appointments one agency at a time," Mr Knowles said.

"Instead, one visit to one agency produces one health appraisal that can instantly connect you to any service you need, with appointments booked before you leave the first. Entering one agency will be like entering all agencies."

To work closer together, about 1000 individual agencies statewide will combine into 28 alliances, while each agency will still retain its autonomy.

Trained staff at every agency will assess people’s health needs and electronically refer and book clients into any other service needed instantly.

Mr Knowles said that the emphasis is moving toward preventative care and education rather than treatment and cure of existing illnesses.

The community health sector is vital to this because it is a first and frequent contact point.

The Victorian Government has already approved 18 alliances.

The alliances approved so far include 725 agencies that cover about 3 million Victorians, or two thirds of the State’s population, and 51 of 78 local government regions.

Eight other alliances at varying stages of readiness have in-principle approval. Development grants will hasten final approval. The 26 alliances would then reach 98% of Victorians. By January 2001, all agencies are expected to be in alliances.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Health and Aged Care, August 13, 1999)