Primary Health Tasmania is in the final stages of negotiating new contracts for the delivery of health services for 21 rural communities across the state.
One federally-funded rural primary health program ends on 31 December this year and a new, different program starts in the new year. The new program focuses on improving the health of people living with chronic conditions.
Primary Health Tasmania is working with existing providers to ensure people using clinical services – like mental health services and physiotherapy – under the current program can safely finish their treatment or move to another service.
Primary Health Tasmania CEO Phil Edmondson said he understands community concerns about current services ending when new services have not yet been announced.
“We are aware of the need to ensure that people have continued access to clinical care as services and providers change,” he said.
“We had already been in touch with all currently funded organisations to offer an extension of funding of up to two months for these clinical services in the changeover period, and in light of community concern we have extended this by a further month,” he said.
“Around half of the providers are taking up this offer, while others have said it won’t be required because they are ready to end service delivery on 31 December.”
Mr Edmondson said one in five Tasmanians have three or more chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, asthma and diabetes.
“Primary Health Tasmania and the Australian Government recognise that people in rural communities need access to the right services in the right place at the right time to stay healthy,” he said.
“As a result of this new program, communities may see a change in the types of services being delivered as well as a stronger focus on better coordination of care for patients with complex needs.
“There may also be new providers working alongside communities’ existing medical services such as general practices, nursing and allied health services.”
Mr Edmondson said Primary Health Tasmania appreciates the considered and positive approach that many of the community-based service providers have taken in making these changes.
“Working in partnership is vital to achieving the best health outcomes for communities,” he said.
Mr Edmondson said Primary Health Tasmania will not be represented at tonight’s public meeting at Sheffield because this would not be appropriate while the tender is still active.
“We understand and respect the Kentish community’s right to undertake any process it feels is important,” he said.
“We ask the community to respect our need to be totally objective during a tender – it would be completely inappropriate for us to even be seen to engage in any activity that could be perceived as influencing decisions relating to an active tender or in any process that might immediately follow.
“We will provide information about new services as soon as we are able to do so.”
Mr Edmondson said if gaps remain in access to essential services for people with chronic conditions in high needs rural areas once the tender process is complete, Primary Health Tasmania will work with communities to examine options to address those gaps.
“Our decisions in a tender process must be based on the details provided to us as part of that tender, and a situation may arise where a community could lose access to a service because there was simply no appropriate tender submitted for the service,” he said.
“There may be cases where we will need to have further discussions with a high needs community to ensure people with chronic conditions have access to essential services.
“This cannot happen until the current tender is finalised and we have the full picture of the services and resources that will be available moving forward.”
Mr Edmondson said Primary Health Tasmania is not responsible for all health services in rural areas. There needs to be a shared responsibility for addressing broader gaps that may exist after this tender process ends, such as transport for people to access health services.
More information about the new rural primary health care funding program – including the Commissioning Intentions Document and a Q&As document – is available on the Primary Health Tasmania website at www.primaryhealthtas.com.au/commissioning/rural-primary-health-services-commissioning
Jenny Denholm Manager – Communications and Marketing