Media Release
19 November 2009
Multi-purpose services and PATS critical for rural health
The right of country women to give birth at a local hospital – and for the elderly to die peacefully
in familiar surrounds – was part of a powerful pitch by the National Rural Health Alliance to MPs
and Senators at Parliament House this week.
“These are important human drivers, as is the timespan between the beginning and end of life,”
said Alliance Chair, Dr Jenny May.
“In effect the Alliance has called for a moratorium on the further closure of country hospitals.
Instead, we call for reinvestment in these vital services, with increased emphasis on the formation
of multi-purpose teams and integrated health services capable of providing acute, primary and
aged care service for people in small rural centres.”
The multi-purpose service model has been developed over 15 years and has proved to be effective
and valued by local communities. It is time for its principles and practices to be extended to
integrated care in a broader range of rural towns and communities.
The Alliance also called for the earliest possible action by Governments to develop a nationally
consistent system for patient assisted travel schemes. The schemes should provide a realistic level
of financial support for country patients and carers to travel away from their homes for a wider
range of essential health services.
Among those who heard the call for improved integrated local services were Health Minister
Nicola Roxon and Warren Snowdon, the Minister for Indigenous, Rural and Regional Health.
The Alliance repeated its call for the Commonwealth to assume policy and funding responsibility
for all publicly-funded primary care. This would mean one level of government having clear
accountability for community health, drug and alcohol services, family and child health, aged care
assessments, Home and Community Care and school and public dental programs.
“There are currently nine separate health systems operating in Australia with limited cooperation
between them and disjointed information systems,” said Dr May.
“The Alliance supports the establishment of regional Primary Healthcare Organisations to plan
and organise the delivery of primary care. These should reflect natural ‘communities of interest’
and have regard to geographical identity, transport and health services connections in rural areas.”
Dr Jenny May - Chair: 0427 885 337
Media: Marshall Wilson 0419 664 155
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