Community health precincts a new era in health care
Published Thursday, 08 November, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
The Queensland Government will boost community-based health services throughout the state to limit the impact of chronic disease and better meet the demands of Queensland’s growing and ageing population, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson released the Health Precincts Guidelines which will help determine where these major health facilities will be constructed and what services they will provide.
“Health Precincts – like those already under development at North Lakes and Browns Plains – co-locate public, private and non-government providers to offer a range of community-based health and human services,” he said.
“These health precincts are not a case of one size fits all, but will be customised according to the particular needs of a community.
“The Guidelines consider the population, service needs, staffing requirements, hours of operation, location, design considerations and IT requirements.”
Mr Robertson said health precincts would help reduce the demand on acute hospitals.
“In Australia, 12 percent of all presentations to public hospital emergency departments are for non-urgent conditions that could be managed by general practitioners,” he said.
“And nine percent of treatments in Queensland public hospitals could have been avoided through better preventative care and early disease management outside the hospital setting.
“By developing health precincts we can provide local, accessible, community-based services to keep people healthy and reduce the pressure on our busy public hospitals.
“All health precincts will offer community nursing, chronic disease prevention and management programs, oral health services and hospital interface programs such as transitional care services.”
Other services could include:
• child, youth and family health services;
• health promotion and prevention services targeting individuals and groups;
• alcohol, tobacco and other drugs services;
• adult community mental health services;
• antenatal and postnatal services;
• allied health services;
• community rehabilitation services;
• paediatric allied health and outreach services;
• specialist medical ambulatory care services;
• sexual health services;
• breast cancer screening and assessment services;
• limited hours minor injuries services and day medical procedure services offering blood transfusions, antibiotic therapy and other limited treatment services;
• day surgical procedures;
• renal dialysis services;
• satellite chemotherapy as part of a cancer service network including services provided by oncology nurses with access to cancer specialist consultancy services;
• diagnostic imaging; pathology and pharmacy services; and
• palliative care services.
Mr Robertson said Queensland’s growing and ageing population and looming tsunami of chronic disease were the greatest challenges to the health system.
“We must find new ways to meet the changing health needs of Queenslanders,” he said.
“Historically, health services have concentrated on making sick people well, however our health system needs to increase its focus on keeping people well and reducing the need for acute hospital services.
“There is growing evidence which suggests that comprehensive and well-coordinated community-based health services can improve the health status of the general population and reduce health inequalities by improving access to cost-effective and high-quality care.
“And there is potential for a stronger focus on preventative care, health promotion and better management of the underlying causes of disease.”
Mr Robertson said the Health Precincts Guidelines were available online at: www.health.qld.gov.au under What’s New.
8 November, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
Mr Robertson released the Health Precincts Guidelines which will help determine where these major health facilities will be constructed and what services they will provide.
“Health Precincts – like those already under development at North Lakes and Browns Plains – co-locate public, private and non-government providers to offer a range of community-based health and human services,” he said.
“These health precincts are not a case of one size fits all, but will be customised according to the particular needs of a community.
“The Guidelines consider the population, service needs, staffing requirements, hours of operation, location, design considerations and IT requirements.”
Mr Robertson said health precincts would help reduce the demand on acute hospitals.
“In Australia, 12 percent of all presentations to public hospital emergency departments are for non-urgent conditions that could be managed by general practitioners,” he said.
“And nine percent of treatments in Queensland public hospitals could have been avoided through better preventative care and early disease management outside the hospital setting.
“By developing health precincts we can provide local, accessible, community-based services to keep people healthy and reduce the pressure on our busy public hospitals.
“All health precincts will offer community nursing, chronic disease prevention and management programs, oral health services and hospital interface programs such as transitional care services.”
Other services could include:
• child, youth and family health services;
• health promotion and prevention services targeting individuals and groups;
• alcohol, tobacco and other drugs services;
• adult community mental health services;
• antenatal and postnatal services;
• allied health services;
• community rehabilitation services;
• paediatric allied health and outreach services;
• specialist medical ambulatory care services;
• sexual health services;
• breast cancer screening and assessment services;
• limited hours minor injuries services and day medical procedure services offering blood transfusions, antibiotic therapy and other limited treatment services;
• day surgical procedures;
• renal dialysis services;
• satellite chemotherapy as part of a cancer service network including services provided by oncology nurses with access to cancer specialist consultancy services;
• diagnostic imaging; pathology and pharmacy services; and
• palliative care services.
Mr Robertson said Queensland’s growing and ageing population and looming tsunami of chronic disease were the greatest challenges to the health system.
“We must find new ways to meet the changing health needs of Queenslanders,” he said.
“Historically, health services have concentrated on making sick people well, however our health system needs to increase its focus on keeping people well and reducing the need for acute hospital services.
“There is growing evidence which suggests that comprehensive and well-coordinated community-based health services can improve the health status of the general population and reduce health inequalities by improving access to cost-effective and high-quality care.
“And there is potential for a stronger focus on preventative care, health promotion and better management of the underlying causes of disease.”
Mr Robertson said the Health Precincts Guidelines were available online at: www.health.qld.gov.au under What’s New.
8 November, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680