Phocull disappoints Midcentral providers

The possible downgrading of primary health organisations proposed in the Simpson report on reforms to New Zealand’s health system has caused disappointment in the Midcentral Health district.

The report’s recommendations on cutting the number of district health boards and ditching elected members also potentially affects the way community health care is organised.

It proposes boards should be able to bypass primary health organisations (PHOS) and contract directly with primary health providers such as general practices to ensure access to healthcare in the community.

Central PHO Think Hauora chairman Bruce Stewart said it was disappointing the review did not acknowledge the ‘‘vital’’ role the organisations played in supporting general practice.

He said the district had been fortunate that the board had valued and supported primary health care development and delivery for nearly two decades.

‘‘Think Hauora has facilitated general practice teams in the district to grow into a strong network of providers who have responded positively to new ways of working for many years.’’

Organisation chief executive Chiquita Hansen said she was confident the board would continue to work with Think Hauroa to build on the strong platform it had created.

‘‘We are fortunate here that we

have a very good relationship with the board.’’

Hansen said Midcentral was well ahead of many parts of the country in the way primary and secondary or hospital-based care providers worked together.

With the district having the lowest ratio of general practitioners for its population in the country, it had moved earlier than some to put extra support into primary care.

That was done through contracts with the district health board that enabled Think Hauora to employ extra health workers to help various groups of patients, such as those with long-term conditions.

She said the board and Think

Hauora had already done a lot of work to identify the health needs of various localities within the district.

It would be important to make sure those distinct communities did not become lost in larger organisations if health board districts grew, she said.

Midcentral chief executive Kathryn Cook said whatever reforms happened with the configuration of boards, the priority would be to carry on ensuring community health needs were met.

It was fortunate Midcentral and

Think Hauora had the same geographical boundaries and a good relationship.

Cook said the board had already done a lot of work on locality planning, identifying the particular health needs of communities within the district.

It had also changed the way it worked to provide services integrated across the community and hospital.

‘‘In all of that, I believe the PHO will continue to work with us in partnership. We are not talking about any changes.’’

‘‘We are fortunate here that we have a very good relationship with the board.’’

Chiquita Hansen