THE CHAIR of the governing council of the new Western Local Health Network hopes the network will give communities a greater say in how their health services operate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“I think it’s about using our resources in a smarter way and taking community and clinician input,” said Molong GP, and council chair, Dr Robin Williams.
“That’s why I think changing from an area health service to a local network is important.
“It recognises the role communities have to play.”
Dr Williams yesterday met with the network’s acting chief executive Lynne Weir for the first time since the network’s commencement.
The Western Local Health Network replaced the Greater Western Area Health Service on January 1.
It’s made up of 41 communities, including Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo, and is one of 18 new smaller health networks in NSW.
The network’s governing council has nine members, with backgrounds in clinical work, governance and finance, who will advise area executives by providing feedback from clinicians and community members.
Having worked in Molong for the past three years, Dr Williams said he was interested in the role smaller communities had to play within the new network.
“I think we could be doing more sub acute care in our smaller facilities,” he said.
“Quite often, I send people to Orange for diagnosis in the acute phase of their illness and I’d like to see them come back sooner rather than later to take some of the pressure of the base hospitals.”
Ms Weir said patients would notice little change to their health services in the early phases of the network.
“My role will be to make sure we maintain the good work we’ve been doing,” she said.
“We’ve done well financially over the last 18 months, we’re meeting our KPIs (key performance indicator) and we’re paying our creditors on time.”
