Primary health care in Western Australia
Simply expressed, primary health care refers to services provided outside the hospital. Your general practitioner, pharmacist and community health nurse are all examples of primary health care providers.
International research has shown that countries with strong primary health services are recording lower rates of hospitalisation, lower mortality and better health outcomes generally.
WA Health has produced the WA Primary Health Care Strategy (PDF) following an extensive consultation process in 2011 with service providers, consumers and other stakeholders.
The WA Primary Health Care Strategy is timely with the Commonwealth Government announcement in 2011 of the selection of Medicare Locals. Medicare Locals will form a national network of primary health care organisations and are a key building block of the national health care reform agenda.
From 1 July 2012 WA Health will establish five health services to replace the existing four area health services. The five health services will continue to operate with the Minister for Health as the Board and his powers delegated to the Director General of Health for the overall functioning of the health system.
The five health services will be:
- Child and Adolescent Health Service
- North Metropolitan Health Service
- South Metropolitan Health Service
- Northern and Remote Country Health Service
- Southern Country Health Service.
Consultation with service providers and consumers is now underway to guide implementation of this strategy, within this environment of change.
Read the WA Primary Health Care Strategy
WA Primary Health Care Strategy (PDF)
WA Primary Health Care Strategy consumer document - coming later in 2012
Fact sheets
What is primary health care? (PDF)
Why is there a need to reform primary health care? (PDF)
What is WA Health's role in the delivery of primary health care? (PDF)
Primary Care News
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Service providers, consumers, and anyone interested in primary health care can join our network here. Our members receive regular updates, along with invitations to events and opportunities to get involved.