Shaking the Tree: A Report Compiled for Pinnacle Independent Practitioners Association (2002)
Group or Institution
Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)
Author(s)
Sapphire Martin-Bailey, Cathy Mills, Cindy Tawa, Bronwyn Turnwald, Jayneen Vallance (Tutor: Hilary Graham-Smith)
Abstract
This report has been compiled by a group of five-second year Bachelor of Nursing students from the Waikato Institute of Technology, working in collaboration with Dr. Steven Lillis, Clinical Advisor to Pinnacle Independent Practitioners Association.
In November 2001, following the release of the Primary Health Care Strategy, the Minister of Health, Annette King, published the “Minimum Requirements for Primary Health Organisations”. Listed among the key points in this document is that “Primary Health Organisations will be required to involve their communities in their governing processes”. (King, 2001, p.9) What is not clear is how such community involvement should occur and what form it should take. The literature reveals a dearth of information about the beliefs and desires of the community regarding such input. Without understanding those beliefs and desires, true community input may not occur.
The project purpose was to explore what the community believes is an appropriate level of input into the governance of Primary Health Organisations and what they perceive to be the most effective way for them to have that input.
In order to better understand the nature of primary health care in Aotearoa – New Zealand, the group firstly looked at what primary health care is and what have been some of the key political strategies that have influenced the structure and functioning of primary health care services in this country. Included in this review is a description of both the current infrastructure that supports the delivery of primary health care, Independent Practitioner Associations, the rationale for change and the proposed new structure, Primary Health Organisations.
Focus group discussions provided the community viewpoint on primary health care and the proposed model of integrated governance and conversations with service providers and administrators assisted the group to achieve an understanding of the primary health care environment.
The findings clearly articulate that the community does not have a clear understanding of how primary health care services are run in Aotearoa – New Zealand, neither are they aware of the Primary Health Care Strategy and its implications for service delivery. They are therefore unable to make an informed decision about the level of input they perceive to be appropriate.
The group recommends that opportunities for sharing this information be discussed at a national level and that a strategy be developed to build a consciousness of primary health care per se and that at a community level providers give consideration to engaging in similar discussions with consumers and/or their representatives with the aim of achieving the following:
- Knowledge of the level of the community’s understanding of primary health care systems and infrastructure
- Knowledge of the community’s frustration with primary health care services and the extent to which that frustration is influenced by the current infrastructure
- A perspective on ways in which the infrastructure could change in terms of facilitating effective and meaningful community input in primary health care
Group/s Associated with the Research:
Pinnacle Independent Practitioners Association Clinical Advisor and Board Member: Steven Lillis
Waikato Institute of Technology Kaumatua: Hare Puke
Link House, Wendy Craig
Age Concern, Sandra Larsen
Korowai Aroha, Ngaire Whata
A full copy of the report is available from:
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