Warning bells sounded at national PHO gathering

Warning bells sounded at national gathering of
Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)

A national gathering of community-driven and governed primary health care services has raised concerns about the impact of under-funding of those services.

"The main message from our members at our national hui this month is that they are in danger of being stretched to breaking point," said Rowena Gotty, of national network Health Care Aotearoa.

"Primary healthcare services are being hit by a double whammy. In addition to cuts to overall funding for national PHO contracts we are also experiencing cost cuts under the local funding arrangements administered by District Health Boards".

"Our biggest concern is that we support our members to remain viable and to ensure they continue to deliver their much needed services where they count," said Rowena Gotty.

"As things are now some of our members may have to lose frontline Doctors and cut back services to communities such as the refugee community and to people with long-term conditions. The decision-makers don’t seem to realise that every hour of service provided by a GP or nurse or community health worker that is lost runs the risk of adding to the Government’s eventual health bill. Cutting access to primary services and treatment runs counter to the goal of decreasing avoidable hospitable and emergency admissions".

Dr Kathy James , Health Care Aotearoa clinical advisor, said the impact of any funding cuts will be worst in the coming winter months when the elderly and the young are at their most vulnerable.

"For our members there is no fat in the system to trim. It simply isn’t a case where they can cut costs in bureaucracy and back room functions simply because they put almost all of our funding into front line services".

"An organisation like Piki Te Ora in Lower Hutt for instance passes on 96% of its funding through to front line services with only 4% spent on administrative costs. This is much less than the national average and much less than bigger health providers would spend".

Health Care Aotearoa is working with its members to argue the case for full support of innovative community-driven and governed primary health care services.

ENDS

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