Capacity for Local Partnerships
Capacity for Local Partnerships Initiative
Coordinators: Ms. Elizabeth Trindle (July -October 2007)
Ms. Ruth Connors (current coordinator- June-December 2008)
The 18 Divisions of General Practice including North and West Queensland Primary Health Care were funded in 2007 to create or strengthen local partnerships and to implement a locally significant project to support the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015. NWQPHC’s project will be completed by 31st December 2008.
Statewide the 18 projects are coordinated and supported by General Practice Queensland
http://www.gpqld.com.au/page/Programs/Chronic_Disease/Capacity_for_Local_Partnerships_Initiative/
North and West Queensland Primary Health Care identified that Cardwell and Kennedy communities in North Queensland would benefit from a project which would target chronic disease management. Some reasons for targeting these communities were:-
• Communities with an ageing population and high incidence of chronic disease
• A high need for health support in those communities
• A community with a sole general practitioner
• A community that has traditionally had difficulty attracting and keeping health professionals
• Communities with a large Indigenous population
• Communities with a high level of social disadvantage
• Communities that were near the boundaries of health service districts, General Practice Divisions and Local Government areas.
• The physical location of Cardwell and Kennedy created many problems with access to, and coordination of health service delivery
Project Aim: To increase number, awareness and uptake of reliable chronic disease management services in Cardwell & Kennedy communities both with health professionals & consumers through health promotion of services to the community; provision of Diabetes Education services to Cardwell through GP & community referrals; calendar of health events for the community.
Project Goal: To assist stakeholders form and strengthen partnerships to improve
• health service priority setting
• health service planning
• the implementation of health services
• to address locally identified strategies in accordance with the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015.
• To implement one project/initiative/strategy in a locally identified strategy area
Project Objectives:
• To support and enhance existing working relationships
• To better promote available health services to consumers
• To improve promotion of health services amongst stakeholder Organisations and Health Professionals
• To examine and enhance enablers of effective service delivery and health strategies
• To examine potential challenges to effective health service delivery
Achievements of the Partners to date:
• A study of the health needs in Cardwell
• Allied health practitioners such as psychologists and diabetes educators increasing services
• Groups such as Tai Chi to improve the strength of those at risk of falls
• Group activities for those with Chronic Disease
• Strengthening bonds between health agencies
• Promotion of health activities
• Recognition of the special needs of those with long term illness
• Calendars and Directories of local services updated and to be distributed
Future Planned Activities:
• Multidisciplinary diabetes clinics to resume
• Enhanced clinics to expand on assessment
• To introduce self-management principles to clients
• Stakeholder meetings with more consumer focus
• Improve referral and practitioner feedback processes
• To continue to support existing partnerships
• To evaluate the partnership and its activities
• To investigate the possibility of a renal clinic day in Cardwell
• To survey local organizations to monitor progress and lobbying community transport