78. Reduce demand on hospitals by increasing investment in community-based services, including:
- rebalancing and accelerating investment towards community-based mental health services and facilities, such as supported accommodation, and integrating mental health services into hospitals to address inpatient capacity shortfalls
- working with the Australian Government to prioritise and expand the role of primary health care in providing more integrated, community-based health services that leverage capacity and support early intervention
- working with the Australian Government to investigate and invest in innovative models of community-based primary health services and facilities, such as urgent-care clinics and co-located primary and allied healthcare hubs
- expanding application of digital technologies, such as telehealth and remote inpatient monitoring, to improve health services’ quality and accessibility across WA.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 78 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
78.122 Continue to engage with the Australian Government on measures to improve access to and flexibility in the provision of health services to all Western Australians
1/1 action on schedule
78.122 On schedule
Funding provided as part of the 2024-25 Budget for the Health Navigator Pilot Program (NHPP) to continue in the current Mirrabooka and South West sites to 2025-26. The DoH will continue to partner with organisations to deliver patient centred and improved health outcomes for children in care via the HNPP. DoH continues to support and and provide input to National Health Reform Agreement negotiations to provide ongoing advocacy for a better share for WA. The WA Government partnered with the aged care sector to deliver the nation-first Older Long Stay Patients to Respite Pilot, facilitating the discharge of 240 patients in 2023-24.
Continued advocacy through jurisdictional forums for a greater role of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguard Commission is ongoing to ensure the disability care workforce has the appropriate skills to support the health needs of people with disability in the community.