1. Ms Rebecca Brown
Deputy Director General, Department of Health
System Financing and Performance and the impact of Primary Care

2. System Financing & Performance and the Impact of Primary Care
Primary Care Forum
24 October 2014

3. Taking Stock Strong foundations Significant challenges
Genuine opportunity
WA has a good public health care system by national and international standards and has led the way in emergency department access.
We have invested significantly in building world class facilities.
Regional health is being transformed through improved infrastructure and increased use of technology.
We have an established competition and contestability model.
Health needs are changing, with a growing and ageing population placing immense pressure on the health system.
Centralisation of governance arrangements have blurred accountabilities and reduced the capacity to innovate and improve.
Costs are growing at an unsustainable rate in a time of increasing fiscal restraint (nationally and within WA).
We need to better support our workforce to do the job, whether through better information, leadership or partnership.
National reforms, which have delivered significant benefits in other jurisdictions, can provide the basis for improvements in both clinical and financial outcomes.
There is an appetite across the system to drive better care through more effective planning and system enablers, and by devolving decision-making closer to the patient.
Enabling a greater focus on health promotion and prevention, and exploiting advances in medical technology will improve patient outcomes.

4. Better Care, Better Value
Underlying Principles for System Reform
Promote and protect the health status of Western Australians
Reduce inequities in health status
Provide safe,
high quality, evidenced-based care
Provide a
patient centred continuum of care
Create a culture of continuous improvement & innovation
Ensure value for money
Be transparent and accountable
Be financially sustainable
Have a capable and engaged workforce
Intended Benefits
Continuously improving
health status of
Western Australians
Continuously improving
patient outcomes
(access, safety, quality)
Continuously improving
financial performance
A more responsive, accountable and engaged health system

5. Directions for reform
Clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities across the system, with decision making devolved to be closer to the patient.
Align services to evidence-based best practice and drive better patient outcomes by providing the right training, systems and business intelligence tools for clinicians and managers.
Allocating resources fairly to ensure services are delivered to those who need them most, with a focus on continually improving performance.

6. Directions for reform
Whole of system planning to ensure better access, quality and safety for health services.
Better prioritisation and delivery of information and communications technology to enable better care.
Clinical leadership and excellence through research and innovation, with services and partnerships focused more on health promotion and prevention.
A professional and consistent approach to procurement and project management to drive value.

7. Implications for primary care
Better system leadership, including strategy, policy and system planning functions.
Improved access, quality and safety of services including delivery of more evidence-based treatment and greater innovation.
A smoother and more integrated journey through the health system for people including keeping people out of hospital with care delivered closer to home.
Improving the health status of Western Australians over time, including wellbeing and management of chronic diseases.