Better, sooner, more convenient health care in Midlands

The Integrated Family Health NetworkA regional focus on improving patient journeys3Waikato Primary HealthWaikato Primary Health is a Primary Health Organisation that promotes the coordination of healthcare for people in Waikato communities, in cooperation with primary health care providers. Itsprimary purpose is to generate health gains for the 315,000 patients enrolled in the Pinnacle Waikatonetwork by:• Targeting services to areas of highest need.• Using available resources most effectively.• Improving access to primary health care services.• Integrating and coordinating primary care services.Outside of Hamilton, the Waikato region is characterised by a significant number of smaller townsthat largely serve rural communities. Local Management Groups (LMGs) have been established incluster groups corresponding to ‘communities of interest’. The areas represented are; Hamilton,Thames/Coromandel, Central Waikato, Matamata, North Waikato, South Waikato, King Countryand Taumarunui.“To have the healthiest population in New Zealand through leadership, innovation and partnershipswe will build and connect quality primary health care services which meet the health needs ofour people.”WPH is governed by member community/patient representatives, health professionals andindependent professionals.Clinical governance and leadership that has direct input into decisionmaking and implementation of improvementsKey to our approach, and to our submission, is a need to rebuild the contracting environmentmoving to a regional Midlands IFHN commissioning approach that supports regional, local (PHO)and practice-based commissioning.This model is shown below as a partnership between the Midlands Clinical Governance Group(MCGG), the Midlands Commissioning Board (MCB), The PHOs, the practices and Integrated FamilyHealth Centres and the people.This is a manifestation of a think regional, act local, philosophy which underpins our approachto everything.In essence we need to manage a shift away from the existing funding environment, which impedesdelivery of patient centred healthcare, to a one contract, one plan approach which enables theflexibility we need to design and deliver services where, when, and how, they are needed at alocal level.To do this the IFHN will establish two bodies responsible for guiding the commissioning and deliveryof services in the Midlands region; the Midlands Clinical Governance Group (MCGG) and theMidlands Commissioning Board.26