SIHI medical model making a difference 24/7, Grylls
Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 02-February-2012
Residents of Northam and surrounding areas now have improved access to emergency medical care 24-hours a day, seven-days a week thanks to the Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI).
The State Government, under the Royalties for Regions program, is investing $565million over five years to reform and improve access to health care for all residents of the Southern Inland area of Western Australia.
The Western Wheatbelt Health District is implementing SIHI’s revolutionary integrated health district network model of emergency care - the centrepiece of the half billion dollar plus project.
The district network model ensures the provision of round-the-clock healthcare is sustainable and effective in regional communities.
While on-call medical services have previously been available in some rural areas, it has been mainly based on the general practice model of care where doctors look after their own patients without supporting a wider network of patients.
“Local GPs are very much part of a community and want to help as much as possible, but it can lead to doctors burning the candle at both ends in an effort to meet the community’s needs,” Dr Hames said.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said in Northam, the new model enabled the introduction of an emergency department roster comprising local doctors.
“We can now deliver sustainable emergency care to residents in the district through the Northam Hospital,” Mr Grylls said.
“The doctors on the roster are willing, available and well supported to provide emergency care in addition to their other medical obligations.”
Fact File
- The Southern Inland Health Initiative, funded by Royalties for Regions, includes:
o investment of $240million to increase the health workforce and provision of health services over four years
o $325million capital works program to be implemented over five years
- Further information on SIHI can be found at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/southerninland/home
Health Minister's office - 6552 5300
Regional Development Minister's office - 9213 7000
