The future of general practice and primary health care services in small towns and communities in the Western NSW Primary Health Network (PHN) region is at a critical point. 41 towns (approximately 20% of the population) are projected to be at risk of not having a general practice in their communities within the next 10 years.
The challenges facing rural and remote health services, including the recruitment and retention of the required workforce and the sustainability of general practices, are well documented and continue to persist after decades of activity at the national, state, regional and community level. While activity at the national and state levels must continue, there is broad
agreement at the regional and community level that there is a need to work differently.
AHHA was engaged to:
- Review the state of general practice in the Western NSW PHN region
- Use national, state and regional data sets to support defining vulnerable small towns, prioritising those for action within the Western NSW PHN region
- Review general practice and primary health care models and strategies that work elsewhere (in Australia and internationally), and consult with a broad range of stakeholders across the
- region to elicit their perceptions of these models and strategies in terms of potential effectiveness and feasibility for implementation in the Western NSW PHN region.
