Skye Cappuccio
The National Primary Health Care Partnership (NPHCP) is a unique collaboration which brings together 19 peak health groups representing both consumers and more than 100 000 frontline health professionals working in the primary health care sector.
During this busy period of consultation around health care reform, the NPHCP has provided a rare forum for discussion between health professional and consumers. Its key value lies in providing a collective voice required to strengthen the primary health care sector.
The NPHCP believes that a strong primary health care sector should be the foundation on which our health care system is built. Strengthening this system so it can perform this role will require fundamental reforms. It will also require changes in how health services and primary health care professionals work together.
Realising quality patient-centred care for all who need it, requires greater integration across settings and providers, supported by collaborative service planning at a regional level. To achieve effective multidisciplinary team care, interdisciplinary education approaches and investment in infrastructure - to co-locate practitioners and support electronic collaboration between care teams - should be developed.
The NPHCP was pleased to see many of its recommendations for strengthening the primary health care system reflected in the recommendations made by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Committee (NHHRC) in their recent report.
The rich mix of expertise that makes up the NPHCP provides an opportunity to further develop some of the key recommendations made by the NHHRC. The NPHCP are currently developing advice on how comprehensive primary health care centres, recommended by the NHHRC to provide consumers with a ‘one stop shop’ for primary health care, could best work in practice.
For further information on the NPHCP visit <www.nphcp.com.au>
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