Forum seeks input to address health workforce concerns and impacts on patient access

20 February 2024

Local Health Forum - supporting primary healthcare

Community members, health professionals and service providers are invited to join South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) to share their experiences and discuss how the health of our region can be improved.

SWSPHN hosts Local Health Forums twice a year to focus on health topics important to people living in our community. The topic for the upcoming forums is ‘supporting primary healthcare’.

Primary healthcare is care given to you in the community. It includes GPs, nurses, allied health, pharmacy and support services. It does not include care at a hospital.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the local health forums were essential to better understanding how SWSPHN could enhance the primary healthcare workforce to ensure quality healthcare was delivered in our community.

“Our primary healthcare industry is becoming stronger every day. However, we want to understand the primary care workforce’s challenges in recruitment and retention, learn about consumers’ experiences, and identify opportunities and priorities in our primary healthcare workforce.”

The Local Health Forums provide a supportive environment for brainstorming ideas aimed at improving health outcomes in our region.

“This is the fourth round of Local Health Forums held by SWSPHN; each forum reinforces the importance of engaging and collaborating with our community to identify areas for improvement and develop solutions to help enhance primary healthcare services in our region,” Dr McDonald said.

Previously, SWSPHN Local Health Forums have focused on chronic disease, care finder services and barriers to accessing mental health services.

The information shared during these forums will help SWSPHN understand the challenges and barriers health professionals and patients face when accessing healthcare.