Better, sooner, more convenient health care in Midlands

Executive Summary1Executive SummaryThis Expression of Interest represents a regionalapproach combining the thinking, efforts and consensusopinion of a wide range of parties in the MidlandsRegion, a region which covers the four midland DHBareas of Gisborne, Lakes, Waikato and Taranaki.This document outlines how we believe we can reduce acute demand in our region through theongoing provision of better, sooner, more convenient primary healthcare.This is an action plan.In almost all instances National Frameworks exist, Midlands strategies have been formulated,guiding principles agreed – in short the bureaucracy surrounding health delivery has done whatbureaucracies do – write. What it has failed to do is deliver. That is where this document will differfrom those it follows.It pulls together the various well-intentioned and cleverly formulated statements of intent andactually plugs them in to deliver better, sooner, more convenient Healthcare.We have identified 6 key areas and $65.8 million worth of services that are currently purchased andmanaged by the Midlands region’s DHBs and their provider arms.The majority of these services are community based and the Midlands Integrated Family HealthNetwork believes that by bringing the purchasing and management of these services closer to thepatient we can create radically better outcomes for our community in the form of better, sooner,more convenient healthcare.We are not adding another level of bureaucracy, our plan commits to being Management andAdministration FTE neutral. We will add resources where they can deliver to our community – not tothe fiefdoms of health industry administration.We are proposing moving to a one-plan regional environment. A plan that delivers superior healthoutcomes to 499,995 New Zealanders living in the Midlands region.It will not cost the Government one additional cent. It will however require a change in the way theexisting funding is distributed.10