MURRAY Primary Health Network has put a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, managing complex care in the community and targeting sustainable rural health care.
The network’s new 2023-2025 strategic plan was developed through extensive engagement with community members, health practitioners, advisory councils and regional health services, providing a roadmap for the organisation’s next three years.
The plan describes key trends, challenges and opportunities identified by a cross section of stakeholders representing Murray PHN’s diverse catchment.
These include shifting population numbers and demographics, underserviced population groups, COVID-19 as a catalyst for innovation, a fragmented health system, primary health care workforce shortages, demand outstripping supply and climate change.
Murray PHN’s work is guided by national and local health priorities and issues that have the greatest impact on the lives of its communities. These are chronic disease, mental health, general practice, First Nations, aged care, child health, alcohol and other drugs, population health, digital health and health workforce.
The new strategic plan describes how an ageing population impacts on a health care system already experiencing workforce shortages and additional pressures caused by the COVID pandemic.
Murray PHN’s chief of strategy and performance, Dr Belinda O’Sullivan, said the primary health care system must be designed to meet community needs.
“Health care funding comes with constraints and complexities, and the government and political landscape is also complex and fast moving,” Dr O’Sullivan said.
“These and other factors contribute to a fragmented health care system, which is responding to a pandemic and a myriad of other health needs, in the context of major digital and data developments and disruptions.”
Dr O’Sullivan said that when communities were supported to manage and improve their health and wellbeing, fewer people need to seek acute health care and more quality care could be provided closer to home.
Murray PHN chief executive Matt Jones said that the organisation had a range of roles within the local health system – connecting and funding services, advising and building system capacity, co-designing models of care and forecasting future need.
“We will achieve our strategic goals by continuing to support our communities and health providers to be innovative and adaptive, and to embrace new approaches and technologies,” Mr Jones said.
“Through innovation, research, engagement, collaboration and advocacy, we will work to generate health systems change and service improvement.”
Read the plan at www.murrayphn.org.au/strategicplan.
