Future of Southern primary and community health services focus of new project

The importance of primary and community based care in the future of the Southern health system has now led to Southern DHB and WellSouth launching a new project for establishing a strategy and action plan for services through to 2030.

Working with Ernst & Young (EY), the plan will be developed over the coming months, with input from consumers, clinicians and communities. 

The plan continues the DHB’s renewed focus on primary and community based care. 

The call for a more integrated health system was made clearly during the Southern Future listening sessions with patients and the community last year, says Southern DHB CEO Chris Fleming. 

“Many of the driving forces in health care require transformational change to our primary services – whether in mental health, or caring for our ageing population.” 

Determining the models of care for the coming generations is also an important part of planning for the Dunedin Hospital rebuild, Fleming says.

The role of Executive Director Primary and Community was created during the reshaping of the DHB’s leadership structure, to provide greater focus in this area.

WellSouth Chief Executive Ian Macara says the PHO is excited by the opportunity to take a ‘whole-of-system’ approach to developing this strategy and action plan, drawing upon “the collective wisdom” of the sector.

“For example, we know that as our population ages and health care continues to improve, more people are spending more of their lives with multiple conditions. But developing the health system needed to ensure we can live long and independent lives with easy access to the care we need cannot be achieved by any one part of the health system working independently.

“This strategy and action plan aims to provide the road map we need to determine the next steps for our District.”

Developing the plan will include open meetings in September to gain feedback on the key components of the draft Strategy, and a second round of meetings in November to present the final Strategy and Action Plan.