28 November 2006

New direction in health care as Premier announces 'one stop shops'

NSW Premier Morris Iemma today announced the locations of the first health ‘one stop shops’ at six locations across the State – Mt Druitt, Manilla, Molong, Cootamundra, Rylstone and Corowa.
“These services bring together GPs, and other community health workers, allied health and other medical professionals employed by the NSW Government in ‘one stop shops’ outside the hospital environment,” Mr Iemma said.
“The establishment of these centres directly relates to the goals of the NSW State Plan to improve early intervention, and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.”
The Premier was accompanied on a visit to the Mount Druitt centre by the Minister for Health John Hatzistergos, Member for Mt Druitt Richard Amery and Member for Londonderry Allan Shearan.
Mr Iemma also announced a call for further ‘one stop shops’ with a second Expression of Interest to be released on 30 November.
“In just 15 months the NSW Government has set a new direction in providing healthcare to people in the community, committing $4 million capital funding for planning and construction of HealthOne NSW projects.
“These one stop shops will better integrate primary healthcare services (GPs) with the NSW health system,” Mr Iemma said.
“The new service, HealthOne NSW at Mt Druitt, is a partnership between Sydney West Area Health Service and the Mt Druitt Medical Practitioners Association, Blacktown Medical Practitioners Association and Western Sydney GP Ltd.
“HealthOne NSW at Mt Druitt will be housed in the Mt Druitt Community Health Centre which will be extended and refurbished, with work to commence in coming months and the service expected to start in February 2007.
“The other five sites are expected to be up and running progressively from 2007 to 2009.”
Minister for Health John Hatzistergos said HealthOne NSW at Mt Druitt will provide team-based care with an emphasis on early diagnosis, disease prevention and coordinated management of chronic and complex conditions to keep people well and out of hospital.
“We are integrating state health services with the Federally-funded primary care sector to make it easier for health professionals to deliver services that will make a real difference to our communities."
Member for Mt Druitt Richard Amery said residents in the Mt Druitt area will benefit from this collaborative service.
“The NSW Government will be providing $160,000 for the extension and refurbishment of the Mt Druitt Community Health to establish the ‘one stop shop’.
“This new service will help the community access front line and medical specialist care,” Mr Amery said
Member for Londonderry Allan Shearan said this new direction is aimed at easing pressure on emergency departments.
“It will give people care outside a hospital setting in a co-ordinated and integrated way”, Mr Shearan said.
In devising HealthOne NSW projects area health services have entered into partnerships with GPs and Divisions of General Practice, and other organisations such as local councils, to plan for these new services.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au