Better, sooner, more convenient health care in Midlands

3 The Integrated Family Health NetworkA regional focus on improving patient journeysCapacity to provide improved workforce development opportunities,such as training facilities to support primary health care placements fora variety of disciplines (e.g. General Practice, Nursing, Allied Health)The Midlands Network has a range of workforce development opportunities working in pocketsacross the region. This currently includes:• Scholarships for undergraduate and post graduate study such as medicine, nursing, midwifery,podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mental health, para-medicine, pharmacy,oral health etc.• Post graduate nursing scholarships for those already working in primary health care.• New graduate nurse pathway targeted to attract newly registered nurses to general practice. Itis structured as a one year internship programme where new graduate nurses work in urban andrural locations. The new graduates are supernumerary so are able to focus on learning.• Adding to this will be the additional capacity to ensure training programmes and placementopportunities are better supported across the Midlands Network and within Integrated FamilyHealth Centres.Two key enablers will be focused on, creating physical space set aside for teaching and learning andthe space within busy professionals days to support and provide the teaching role.Additional partnerships will be developed with education facilities to bring industry training into theprimary care health sector context to ensure all Integrated Family Health Centre protect and nurturetraining capacity.Processes to meaningfully engage consumers and the communityCommunity participation is a key component of the New Zealand Primary Health Care Strategy.The minimum requirements for Primary Health Organisations did not specify how the communityvoice should be heard at the governance level but did specify that PHOs must be responsive totheir communities and have genuine processes for including community, iwi and consumers in theirgoverning processes. Community participation in decision making happens at different levels indifferent ways.The Midlands Network will rely on the strong local connections with communities and other keystakeholders that have been developed and nurtured by the PHOs. Each has within their owncommunities developed a range of responses to local needs.In most cases PHOs are currently operating within the midrange of the ladder of participation. Acontinued commitment to developing higher degrees of participation is a fundamental given withinthe Midlands Network.District Health Board involvement and supportSupport and ongoing dialogue has been sought from the CEOs and GMs of Funding and Planningin each of the Midlands District Health Board areas covered within this EOI. Each District HealthBoard has indicated support for the Midlands Network proposal and for the enhanced anddeveloped role that primary care will play within the new environment. Some of the proposals withinthe EOI challenge the existing accountabilities for District Health Boards and the crown fundingagreements however there has been a range of discussions supporting the exploration of new waysof doing things collectively.Each District Health Board has also been asked to contribute a list of priorities and ideas for theEOI to address both local and regional needs from their perspective. This has contributed to theidentification of a range of ideas some which will be further developed via the business development31