ONE of the Wimmera’s largest providers for general practice is calling for funding towards hiring more mental health nurses.
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Western Victorian Primary Heath Network is set to receive $36.9 million towards its services over three years from July 1.
It comes as the federal government last week announced $1.45 billion in funding would flow towards Australia’s 31 Primary Health Networks.
Western Victoria PHN covers the Wimmera, Geelong, Ballarat and South West Coast regions.
The federal government is set to change the funding model so organisations don’t have to re-tender for contracts every year, to ensure staff will no longer face uncertainty.
Tristar Medical Group Mental Health Services manager Brett McKinnon said the provider wanted to see the money committed to primary care prevention strategies.
“A lot of these (mental health) patients that come through the system will first present to their GP, so having services at the coalface with the GP from our perspective is quite integral,” he said.
“Their capacity to service the person holistically is greater than their psychologist and social worker counterparts. This is because they can do medications and physical health needs, which is often a gap in catering to the mental health service consumer.”
Mr McKinnon said Tristar lost two mental health nurses in Horsham when a Mental Health Nursing Clinic Program was disbanded.
“Where they would have been seeing higher volumes of patients week-in-week-out – both being fully booked upwards of 40, 50 or 60 clients per week – the clients now have to receive those services elsewhere,” he said,
“I’m not certain they’re getting serviced in a timely manner as what they would have been accustomed to in a Tristar context. With the option to apply for that extra funding we’ll certainly look to re-employ those same two nurses and reinstate some of those services.”
The government estimated $177 million of its total funding injection would be spent on mental health nurses, but Mr McKinnon said he had written to Health Minister Greg Hunt for a more specific breakdown.
Western Victoria PHN acting chief executive Rowena Clift said the organisation was awaiting further details regarding the funding.
She said it was looking forward to working with service providers to ensure the committed money was used effectively.
“The endorsement of rolling funding is especially welcome as it will enable localised, on-the-ground services to continue for significant periods, and workforces to remain engaged,” Ms Clift said.
“More long-term planning is needed in the system, which will then help us realise long-term solutions.”
Primary Health Networks were set up by the federal government in 2015 to ensure taxpayers money was directed to where it was needed and spent on health programs that will be most effective.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad welcomed the announcement.
“With an estimated one in five people in Australia experiencing a common mental disorder each year, it is vital that further investment is made for all ages and demographics,” he said.
It is estimated nearly half of all Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime, but less than half will access treatment.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
