South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) has welcomed the Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of primary care in combatting the spread of COVID-19 with the extension of funding for temporary MBS telehealth items and testing at GP-led respiratory clinics in Tuesday night’s Federal Budget.
Additional funding to ensure the National Medical Stockpile continues to provide access to medicines, PPE medical supplies and equipment during the pandemic is also timely.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said supporting general practices and our community through the challenges of COVID-19, and ensuring locals continued to access healthcare for their chronic conditions and everyday needs, had been key focuses of SWSPHN during the past six months.
“We welcome the extension of Medicare subsidised telehealth – a vital measure to keep both our primary carers on the frontlines of this pandemic and our community safe – and testing for COVID-19 through the GP-led respiratory clinics,” he said.
“Both are important components of our response to the pandemic and essential to reducing community transmission of the virus.
“Our region has embraced telehealth. Of the 228 general practices in South Western Sydney who submit data to SWSPHN, patients have accessed care via a standard consultation with their GP 593,436 times – 574,948 via phone and 18,488 via video – in the past seven months.
“They have also recognised the importance of COVID-19 testing with more than 341,100 COVID-19 tests carried out across the region since January.
“The Government has fast-tracked electronic prescribing which improves access to medicines in response to COVID-19. SWSPHN is currently supporting the rollout of ePrescribing across our region.”
Dr McDonald said he was pleased with the prioritisation of investment in mental health, given the dual challenges of the summer’s bushfires which impacted our Wollondilly and Wingecarribee communities, and COVID-19 in 2020.
“More than $50 million has been allocated across the country to support frontline emergency distress and trauma counselling; expansion of existing mental health services; and supporting communities in recovery community grants,” he said.
“With this funding SWSPHN will enhance existing commissioned services for children, young people and adults to enable services to provide outreach to community and frontline workers such as Rural Fire Service volunteers, with a particular focus on Wollondilly, Wingecarribee and Camden. We will also be providing community grants focused on building community resilience.”
Dr McDonald said SWSPHN was committed to action on suicide prevention and supported investment in suicide prevention initiatives in the Federal Budget including the $13.4 million to extend the National Suicide Prevention Trials for a further year and $2 million for further crisis support through Lifeline and Kids Helpline.
“In the last 12 months we’ve worked with South Western Sydney Local Health District and those with lived experience of mental health concerns to develop our Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan,” he said.
“In addition, we hosted co-design sessions with almost 100 community members earlier this year to develop an innovative grants approach which will focus on supporting activities to improve the mental health and reduce the rates of suicide in men.”
Other key budget measures include:
National Immunisation Program
The government is investing $49 million over four years in the National Immunisation Program to improve protection for those most at risk from potentially fatal meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases. For the first time, the meningococcal B vaccine is available for free to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under two years. A catch-up program will be available until 30 June 2023 with about 20,000 Indigenous children expected to be vaccinated each year.
Supporting senior Australians
The government is investing $408.5 million to improve the care and quality of the aged care system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and urgent issues raised by the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care. It is also delivering an additional 23,000 home care packages at a cost of $1.6 billion providing support for senior Australians who want to live in their homes for longer.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
The government is investing $4 billion in Indigenous health funding over the next four years, including $975.5 million in 2020–21. From 1 July 2020 the Government has also provided an extra $90 million to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations under a new funding model and $35 million in 42 projects in areas such as ending avoidable Indigenous deafness, ending avoidable Indigenous blindness and helping to eradicate chronic kidney disease. A further $33 million is being provided through the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme to expand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare services.