Western Sydney Medicare Local

Western Sydney Medicare Local

Characteristics of the local area:

Western Sydney is a region of high health need, with a rapidly expanding and ageing population. Levels of chronic and complex disease are high. The region includes large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. While good services are being provided, there is an opportunity for services in the area to be better connected and work together.

New key activities as a Medicare Local:

To meet its strategic objectives, the Western Sydney Medicare Local will undertake a range of activities that will initially include:

• Developing an Aboriginal Health Strategy with the Western Sydney Local Health District and the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney (AMSWS), targeting chronic patients and linking with other services.
• Developing a responsive, flexible structure that meets local community needs and priorities, and targets the Commonwealth’s key priority areas within e-health, GP after hours services, mental health and aged care.
• Involving a broader range of clinicians at all levels of operations.
• Supporting and engaging communities and health care providers in areas of highest need.
• Integrating education, training and research.
• Working more closely with the Local Health District in health planning and service delivery.
• Building on already established networks and partnerships.
• Collating data and empirical evidence to inform decision making.

Achievements to date:

Previous activities undertaken by WentWest Limited include:

• Being a Regional Training Provider (RTP) with both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and General Practice Education and Training Ltd, and delivering the Australian General Practice Training program to GP Registrars within the region.
• Providing comprehensive support to general practices under the Divisions of General Practice Program.
• Working with the Western Sydney Local Health District to facilitate service planning, collaboration and care delivery (including establishing and implementing HealthOne Mt Druitt and HealthOne Auburn).
• Providing SHAPE (Sessions for Health & Physical Exercise) to local communities targeting obesity and lifestyle risks and preventing the rise of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Providing the Closing the Gap program to coordinate services and address the psycho-social needs of local Indigenous community members.

Local partnerships:

The Western Sydney Medicare Local will build on WentWest’s existing partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders, including:

• The AMSWS, which is committed to a partnership to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Western Sydney.
• Local GPs and allied health providers, who have indicated support and commitment to continued partnerships individually and as part of local medical practitioners’ associations.
• Hawkesbury Hills Division of General Practice (HHDGP), supporting WentWest’s transition and commitment to working closely with WentWest on the development of the Western Sydney Medicare Local in the Hills region.
• The RACGP, which has formally indicated its support and encouragement for WentWest’s transition.
• The Universities of Sydney and Western Sydney, which are committed to partnering with the Western Sydney Medicare Local on education and training for primary health care disciplines and supporting primary health care research and evaluation.
• The Nepean Division of General Practice and Blue Mountains GP Network, which will continue to partner with the Western Sydney Medicare Local and the WentWest RTP.
• Western Sydney Local Health District, to improve the health of Western Sydney communities, including planning for patients and high priority areas such as HealthOne, Chronic Care and After Hours.

Consultation mechanisms and structure:

The Western Sydney Medicare Local model is based on health, equity, community empowerment and capacity building at individual, family and community levels. It will:

• Build on WentWest’s existing corporate structure, which is a Company Limited by Guarantee with corporate membership;
• Have general practitioners, allied health and other primary health care providers and community members represented at all levels of the organisation;
• Move to a skills-based Board;
• Establish an Advisory Council reporting to the Board;
• Develop Local Primary Health Care Health Networks; and
• Develop a Western Sydney Medicare Local Community and Consumer Forum.

Contact details:

WentWest Limited
Level 1, 85 Flushcombe Road
Blacktown NSW 2148

Phone: (02) 8811 7100
Fax: (02) 9622 3448
Email: wentwest@wentwest.com.au
Website: www.wentwest.com.au

Western Sydney Medicare Local (PDF 431 KB)