Western NSW, Living Well Together
Health ServicesWestern NSW Local Health District aims to provide good experiences for people using public health services by making sure these services are of high quality, appropriate, safe, available when and where needed, and coordinated to meet each individual’s needs. Our health services include facilities in more than 40 geographical locations. These facilities offer an extensive range of services including mental health, dental, allied health, public health, Aboriginal health and multicultural health services. Further information on the range of services offered by NSW Health can be found using the following link: NSW Health Services The Western NSW LHD Strategic Health Services PlanIntroductionWestern NSW Local Health District (LHD) is a relatively new organisation with its first Board assuming responsibility in 2011. The LHD has devolved accountability and is responsibile for planning, funding and providing public health services that are safe, high quality and patient centred for the people of Western NSW in a financially responsible manner. The advent of the LHD coincides with the establishment of Medicare Locals and their respective planning phases, and provides an opportunity for the LHD to take a partnership and 'whole-of-system' approach to planning and services delivery with the Western NSW and Far West NSW Medicare Locals. At the same time, the organisation faces challenges including changing demographics; an increasing Aboriginal population and the need to improve Aboriginal health outcomes; public expectations; the rural and remote nature of the District; an ageing workforce with difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, and the need to improve effective transfer of clinical information across services. Clinicians and local management have been very strongly supportive of the need for a strategic approach to service planning which will guide future models of care and investment decisions across the District. It is in the context that the LHD, with the assistance from Health Partners Consulting Group is developing the District's first Strategic Health Services Plan (the Plan). A Health Needs AssessmentThe Health Needs Assessment (HNA) is a living document that is a detailed analysis of our population health data, patient flow, service delivery models and projected health needs. Its the first stage of the development of the strategic health service plan. Please click on this link and take the time to read over the Health Needs Assessment. You may be interested in some of the key facts from the HNA:
Some of the priority areas identified by the HNA where health care interventions are likely to give the greatest benefits to the District's population include:
Feedback can be forwarded to ce@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au The Strategic Health Services PlanThe Plan will incorporate the findings of the Health Needs Assessment and a detailed analysis of current and best practice models of care, service configurations and enablers to provide the direction and framework for its operations for the next three years. The Plan will set the foundation for future service planning and development to provide a strategic view of service configuration, models of care and key enablers that:
Discussions with community and cliniciansA key part of the development process has been a number of discussions and forums held in recent months, including
It is anticipated that the first draft of the Strategic Health Services Plan will be presented to the Board in July 2013. |
