Board invests in primary healthcare initiatives

31 October 2006

Health board invests in primary healthcare initiatives

Bay of Plenty District Health Board has announced funding of $250,000 to support new initiatives across the primary and community sectors that will enhance the range of services and capacity.

The announcement was delivered by Chief Executive Phil Cammish at the recent Primary and Community Healthcare Summit, held by the health board to highlight best practice service delivery in the primary and community healthcare sector and explore opportunities for future improvements.

The funding is particularly aimed at, but not limited to, the Eastern Bay of Plenty, where rurality and high-need populations provide further challenges for effective service delivery.

Mr Cammish says that the main aim of the funding is to provide the opportunity for providers to explore options that may not be able to be funded via traditional sources.

"It's about thinking outside the square and offering organisations a chance to do something a bit out of the ordinary to target their specific communities in a way that will achieve positive health outcomes," says Mr Cammish.

Key criteria enabling organisations to access this funding will be developed, but will primarily focus on projects that are not available for funding from traditional sources, or may fall outside parameters of other existing funding and projects.

Initiatives should also be able to commence within an early timeframe as funding is limited to the existing financial year and we are seeking to maximise its application.

More than 160 people from throughout the primary and community healthcare and secondary sector, including nursing, allied health, and Maori providers attended the summit.

The summit signalled the beginning of a robust community consultation process to be undertaken by the Grafton Consulting Group which aims to progress the initiatives demonstrated and also identify new opportunities to further enhance these sectors from a collaborative approach, working in partnership with providers and communities. It is anticipated that the consultation process will be completed by April 2007.

ENDS

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