What is the purpose of this project?

    The purpose of this project is to work collaboratively with local stakeholders to identify how we can work together to improve access to after hours care in towns, cities and regions throughout Western Victoria. Western Victoria PHN wants local stakeholders to play a greater role in shaping some of the investment in local system innovations.

    The PHN receives a small amount of Commonwealth funding to work with stakeholders to plan and coordinate after hours health services, focusing on addressing gaps in service provision, ‘at risk’ populations and improving service integration.  Not all ideas for improvement will necessarily require funding from the PHN. 

    Further details can be found on the project description page https://www.meetingplacewestvicphn.com.au/after-hours-codesign

    Who is the PHN consulting with?

    This project invites input from key stakeholders across all sub-regions of Western Victoria PHN. 

    The key stakeholders include, but are not limited to:
    • Ambulance Victoria
    • deputising services
    • general practices
    • governments – federal and state
    • pharmacies
    • pathology 
    • radiology
    • regional health services (hospitals, urgent care centres, bush nursing services) 
    • staff from Western Victoria PHN, and
    • triage services.
    We welcome and encourage you to share this opportunity with your networks.


    How is the PHN consulting?

    Consultation is being undertaken in three ways. 

    1.  Online consultation - via Meeting Place Western Victoria PHN

    2.  Regional workshops

    • Warrnambool 18 September 2018 (online)
    • Stawell 19 September 2018 
    • Geelong 26 September 2018
    • Ballarat 26 September 2018
    3.  Consultation with current and previous PHN after hours grant recipients.

    When does the consultation finish?

    Stage 1: Provides stakeholders the opportunity to raise ideas  that may improve after hours primary health care in their local community 10-30 September 2018 

    Stage 2: Provides stakeholders the opportunity to prioritise ideas and discuss how solutions can be implemented 

    How will the PHN use our feedback?

    Stage 1 provides stakeholders the opportunity to raise ideas that may improve after hours primary health care in their local community. 

    Together with stakeholders, we will document service gaps, service duplication, workforce challenges, collaboration opportunities and capability building opportunities in order to develop possible solutions. 

    The PHN will summarise the key issues and identified solutions into a set of potential innovations/projects which then go back to stakeholders to prioritise.  

    Stage 2 will provide stakeholders the opportunity to prioritise innovations/projects for PHN support, and discuss how ideas can be implemented.   Prioritisation will occur through voting, whereby the most popular ideas will be prioritised. 

    Will stakeholders receive a copy of the recommendations?

    In stage 2, stakeholders will receive a summary of innovations/ideas to vote on. The voting results will be open to the public. 

    The final recommendations will be shared here on Meeting Place Western Victoria.

    What does co-design mean?

    Co-design is a process of designing services with the people who will use or deliver the services;  and/or who are likely to be impacted from the process or the outcome, either directly or indirectly. 

    In this project, service system stakeholders in Western Victoria will actively generate and be given opportunities to discuss solutions, and will help the PHN to prioritise what should be supported regionally.

    The principles of co-design are:
    • inclusive
    • respectful
    • participatory
    • iterative
    • outcomes-focused.

    What after hours funding will be available?

    After hours funding will be made available to support the commissioning of innovative after hours service models developed in response to the after hours co-design process and the Department of Health After hours Program guidelines.

    Western Victoria PHN receives Commonwealth funding to work with key stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and support population based after hours health services, focusing on addressing gaps in service provision, ‘at risk’ populations and improved service integration.

    Western Victoria PHN aims to improve patient outcomes in the after hours period by working collaboratively with health professionals and services to integrate and facilitate a seamless patient experience, including secure flow of patient health information between service suppliers. In addition, Western Victoria PHN aims to increase consumer awareness of after hours services available in their local community and improve consumer confidence about how to access services appropriately if and when required.

    How does the PHN allocate its after hours funding?

    After hours funding is allocated based on the recommendations from the co-design process and the Department of Health After hours Program guidelines.

    Who do I contact for more information?

    Natalie Haugh
    Planning and Performance Consultant @ Western Victoria PHN
    03 5222 0814

    Jo Grzelinska
    Principal Consultant @ Larter Consulting
    0418595781
    jo@larter.com.au 

    Leanne Beagley
    CEO @ Western Victoria PHN
    03 5222 0800

    How is the mapping being done?

    Information on PHN-funded After Hours projects is used to inform mapping, including:

    • General Practice availability during social and unsociable hours (Sociable after hours period – 6 pm to 11 pm weeknights, Unsociable after hours period – 11 pm to 8 am weekdays, before 8am and after 12 noon Saturdays, all day Sundays and Public Holidays)
    • Urgent Care Centres
    • Emergency Departments
    • Bush Nursing
    • Medical deputising services
    • Supercare Pharmacy
    • Critical Area Support Grants
    • Patient Streaming Service (PSS)
    • After Hours Transport Assistance Scheme (ATAS)
    • Rural and isolated practice endorsed registered nurses (RIPERN) Scholarships