The Federal Government is ploughing much money and effort into propping up jobs and consumer confidence at a time of intense concern about the impact of the economic downturn.
The health networks across Australia, which are funded by the Federal Government to deliver vital primary care services, have no idea of their future at this critical time.
At my organisation, I am in the invidious position of not knowing whether I will have the funds to keep employing my staff after June 30. Most primary health networks around the country are in a similar boat.
For months we’ve been waiting for an answer from the Department of Health and Ageing as to what will happen to our funding in the next financial year.
I was told there would be a decision at the end of January. Then, at the end of February. Here we are, now in mid March, and still I don’t know what to tell my staff when they ask, will I have a job from July?
I gather the delay is because the Government has a number of important health reviews underway and I am optimistic that these will lead to an improved focus on primary care and enhancements for organisations such as ours.
But in the meantime, my employees and I are left to cope with uncertainty and all the consequences likely to flow from that. It is hard enough to recruit and retain health professionals to work in remote areas, without having to contend with these sort of frustrations.
I am particularly concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the future of key positions such as Diabetes Educators, Dietiticians and Chronic Disease Nurses.
We should be putting our efforts into employing more of these key people — we service a vast area, with a large Indigenous population, that has such a high need for these services. Our staff is now so busy doing acute work that they can’t even begin to address the need for preventative services.
It’s time for some government action.
John,
Imagine if we could fund drug and alcohol nurses to work alongside diabetes educators, dietitians and chronic disease nurses at local health services……
Look for the corporatisation of sections of public health over the next few years.
Particularly among those areas where the recipients are the least politically capable of arguing back.
These will be called Public private Partnerships where profits are privatized, nvestment subsidized.and losses socialised. Pretty much business as usual I guess. Ditto education – just wait for it to happen.
Divisions of General Practice or Primary Care Networks have been in the same position as many health organisations with a lot of knowledge about outputs but not much about outcomes. There has been concerted efforts in recent years to change this and there is now very good data emerging on effect of Divisions program intervention on things like HBA1c levels, blood pressure, BMI, mental health. There will always be sceptics but never have I seen organisations so well placed to make real health improvements in primary health care at a local/regional level
everything needs to be put into context. Is there any proof or evidence that Div of general practice are actually achieving health outcomes-or merely providing health care professionals with jobs. Are divisions creating problems which need to be solved simply to be able to apply for more money,employ more staff BUT achieve nothing which can be shown to provide Health Outcomes?
Can we have some sort of response from the Feds here? Or do we have another children overboard generation of decision-makers and bureaucrats who only ever show interest in the politics?