#SecurePCPsFuture

On 11 October 2019 the Department of Health and Human Services/DHHS advised that PCPs across Victoria will have their funding extended from 31st December 2019 to the 30th June 2020, during which time an external review will be commissioned to evaluate the Statewide PCP program.

The review was undertaken by KPMG in late 2019.  The scope of the review was to:

• Review the function and impacts of the PCP Program model in Victoria
• Explore the effectiveness of the PCP Program in a contemporary primary care landscape
• Capture the learnings from the PCP Program to date.

The review findings are with DHHS.

On 16 March 2020 DHHS advised of a further extension to PCP funding until 31st December 2020, as the recent bushfires and COVID- 19 have meant DHHS have not had the opportunity to assess the outcomes of the review.

On 28 September 2020 DHHS advised of a further extension to the funding and service agreements to June 2021, with an indication that the PCP platform would be reformed.

While all current PCP Program guidelines, including reporting requirements and obligations under the Funding and Service Agreement remain in place, further advice is yet to be provided about the next phase in the reform process.

These extensions follow an extended period of funding uncertainty as since 30th June 2017 PCPs have been operating under expired Program Logic and reporting requirements.

In September 2019 VIC PCP launched a #SecurePCPsFuture advocacy campaign page on the VIC PCP website http://vicpcp.org.au/securepcpsfuture/

VIC PCP also conducted a state-wide survey of all PCPs to gather information to support the advocacy efforts. 27 PCPs completed the survey and the results have been presented in the key messages document as well as in the infographic format highlighting the value add and return on investment that PCPs deliver.

The purpose of the campaign page is to be a central repository of all resources and information for local Members of Parliament (MPs), all PCPs and their members and other organisations and peak bodies who expressed interest in advocating for ongoing funding for PCPs.

What we stand to lose across Victoria:

• 28 established local health partnerships across  Victoria
• 19 years experience in partnership brokering
• Strong, vibrant networks that connect more than 800 organisations across the state
• Better health and well being outcomes for Victorians in the places where they live.

For more detail on the quality and diversity of PCPs work see Contributing to better health and well being outcomes for our communities: Examples from around Victoria

What we stand to lose in Melbourne’s inner north west:

• Support to maintain the relationships we have established in our 19 years together
• Resources for innovation, quality improvement, research, workforce development, community engagement
• Support to coordinate our prevention efforts
• Support to implement government policy
• Help in bringing more resources into Melbourne’s inner north west.

View INW PCP’s achievements in 2018, 2019 and 2020

How you can help:

If you find benefit in working with Inner North West Primary Care Partnership, please consider supporting the Vic PCP advocacy campaign by:

• Visiting the Vic PCP web advocacy page and sharing the Infographic and Case study report with your networks
• Participating in the social media campaign
  • Follow #SecurePCPsFuture or INW PCP’s twitter feed 
  • Share the Vic PCP Social Media tiles

For information and resources to assist you advocate to secure funding for PCPs visit VICPCP.