Our experience is that government engagement with health consumers is variable in many aspects. Quality improvement would be beneficial, and allow Australians an enhanced voice. Let’s hope the resources are put in place to make this possible.
"In some respects, the health and aged care consumer is missing from the department’s considerations...
While consumers are often involved in departmental consultation forums, it is not clear that their views carry the same weight as the views of health and care providers...
My mum would have been 80 today. I share my thoughts about how @OfficialJLD and the @LemonadaMedia team are helping me grieve as I listen to the wisdom of phenomenal women on Wiser Than Me here https://t.co/RAYYorFs1n Check out this great podcast here https://t.co/ZnU96kf8wt
Join CHF, CEO @eldeveny and the Policy Team in this webinar for a breakdown of the Federal Budget announcements for Health 2023-24 on Wed 10 May, 2:30 pm (Eastern Time)
#auspol#Budget2023
https://t.co/mA4Q8mziu9
💯@JenniferDoggett. Informed health consumers are the key. Much more needs to be done to ensure that neither luck nor personal circumstances are the determinants that lead to high quality, safe, person-centred care.
@QLDCountryGP@eldeveny I have observed over the years that when informed consumers are actually able to make very complex decisions about the balancing of safety, quality, efficiency, resource allocation, value and other priorities in health care - this is why they need to be central to this debate.
Self-interest or convenience on the part of any players who influence decisions about #healthcare comes as a surprise to many. Supporting Australians to understand all the determinants of #healthcare system will increase #transparency and reduce potential #assumptions
@eldeveny A problem with health system discussions is consumers assume that health policy decisions will be based on safety & quality; when what I repeatedly see is decisions made on cost-cutting, political point-scoring, and lobbying & donations. Convenience is important but not #1.
Every day of the week local #doctors, #pharmacists#nurses and many others collaborate to provide much needed #healthcare. Ordinary Australians are sometimes confused by the stark difference between their personal experience of #healthcare and some public commentary.
@JenniferDoggett@eldeveny It is. Don’t think it's fair to equate them though. RACGP is a educational & standard setting college, Guild an organisation of retail pharmacy owners that exists to protect their interests. The fact the the latter has so much pull is indicative of our political systems issues.
@QLDCountryGP@JenniferDoggett@eldeveny There is a very good reason why diagnosing, investigating, following up, prescribing, or NOT prescribing as the case dictates, was separated from dispensing. There can be some sensible practical exceptions but wholesale removal of the distinction is not wise & certainly not safe.
@JenniferDoggett@eldeveny I would like the current Fed Gov to do what they said they would do before the election and ‘Save Medicare’ by providing a better subsidy for Australians to visit their GP. Instead we will have a pharmacist who is NOT A DOCTOR treating us, might as well use Doctor Google 🙄
Health consumers views are fundamental to the #policy conversation, the #implementation of any changes and #evaluation of new services. Governments and others need to ensure that we are fully informed about how #Australias#healthcare system works now and always.
@DrLiesel@eldeveny I can't answer that but I think it's vital that consumers are involved in the design of any pharmacy prescribing programs and in their evaluations.
Right now @CHFofAustralia needs your help. Let's remind those finalising the #2023budget that health consumers demand their rightful place at the #table. It's our health. It's our money. It's time. #30yearson
We have taken heart from the public statements made by Minister @Mark_Butler_MP and others. Now we need more than words. We need a #commitment with the #resources to drive the #change we all seek.