The Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) has applauded the Labor Government following the announcement of significant investment into primary care in the 2023 Federal Budget, which was handed down last week.
Network CEO Richard Nankervis said the Budget delivered a strong recognition of and commitment to strengthening the primary care sector.
“The Labor Government’s substantial investment into primary care is a win for people residing in the Hunter, New England and Central Coast regions,” he said.
“I thank the Government for recognising the significant challenges being faced in primary care and providing the necessary funding to ensure that we can begin addressing these concerns.
“While details regarding the application of the initiatives remain largely unknown, the Budget gives the PHN confidence that we can continue in our work commissioning health services to meet the needs of our community, while also identifying innovative solutions to challenges that emerge within our changing population.”
The health and aged care priority areas addressed in the Budget include improving patient access to general practice (including after hours), improving patient access to GP-led multi-disciplinary team care (including nursing and allied health).
This will make primary care more affordable for patients, improve prevention and management of ongoing and chronic conditions and reduce pressure on hospitals.
All priority areas are aligned with challenges being faced across the Hunter, New England and Central Coast region.
Key initiatives providing impact for the Hunter, New England and Central Coast PHN include: Medicare Urgent Care Clinics; after hours care; and improvements to multidisciplinary care for management of patients with chronic conditions.
Key initiatives providing impact for general practice in the region include My Medicare, increases to bulk billing, introduction of the single employer model and other incentives such as the aged care incentive payments.
Health and aged care expenditure announced in the Budget totalled $139.2B, an increase of $5.6B compared to the March 2022-23 Budget.
Total health and aged care spending over the next four years is forecast to be $589B, an increase of $42B from the March 2022-23 Budget allocation of $547B.
The Hunter New England Central Coast PHN works with general practice, health centres, businesses, and individuals across a 130,000sqkm area, helping to deliver innovative and locally relevant health care solutions for the 1.2 million people who live in communities across the region.
Source:
Central Coast Primary Health Network