Comparing Functions: Primary Health Networks & Local Health Districts

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and Local Health Districts (LHDs) in the Australian healthcare system. It begins with an executive summary highlighting the importance of PHNs and LHDs in delivering efficient and high-quality healthcare. The report then delves into the introduction, discussing the changing landscape of health challenges and the establishment of PHNs and LHDs to address these issues. It provides background information on health systems and the need for well-organized corporate support. The report compares and contrasts the different functions of PHNs and LHDs, highlighting their roles in improving patient care, supporting primary health care, and ensuring accessible healthcare services. It also discusses the challenges faced by both PHNs and LHDs, such as increased catchment areas and financial resource constraints. The report concludes with recommendations for improvement, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships, long-term investment, and organizational stability. Overall, the report underscores the significant role of PHNs and LHDs in advancing person-centered healthcare in Australia.

Running head: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE 1
Primary health networks
Name
Institution affiliation

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Executive summary
Primary Health Network and local Health Districts are advocated worldwide as a central
to the delivery of a responsive, active high-quality and efficient health systems. Due to the
efficient integration of primary health network, Australia’s health system is considered one of the
best in the world that offers quality, safe, and affordable healthcare for all. However, with the
rise of globalization, the social solidity of numerous countries are under pressure and with health
system being a vital component of the design of modern societies they tend not to perform as
they should. There is a need for a health system to react better and quicker to the problems of a
changing world.Regarding the above statement, there has been a development of 31 Primary
Health Networks (PHN) in Australia established to provide proficiency and usefulness of
medical services for patients. Often, Primary Health Network aims at improving patients who are
at the menace of poor health results. As a result, the report seeks to illustrate the significant role
played by primary health network and local health districts. The story will compare and contrast
various functions of Local Health District and Primary Health Network. In a like manner, it will
discuss the particular challenges which may emerge from new arrangements and finally make
recommendations for improvements in the future.

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Introduction
The landscape of health difficulties is endlessly changing in a manner which was partly
projected and at a rate that was exclusively unpredicted. Indeed, ageing and the outcomes of
poorly managed development and globalization have enhanced the global spread of infectious
illnesses and raised the affliction of lasting and non-communicable ailments. Health systems are
therefore not isolated from the rapid pace of revolution and renovation which is an indispensable
part of modern globalization. In response to the challenge of a changing world, there is an
establishment of Primary Health Network and Local Health District to cater for health needs
(Osborn et al. 2015). Primary Health Network target to improve harmonization of care to
guarantee that patients obtain veracious attention in the right place and at the accurate time. PHN
is essential health care grounded on useful, systematically sound and publically conventional
tactics and technology that are generally available to persons and relatives in the community via
involvement at a cost affordable to them (Peck ham et al., 2015). On the other hand, Local
Health District refers to a government organization which is on the front line of public health.
Indeed, LHD, emanate from expectations by individuals that government ought to put into place
a selection of general strategies to deal with health issues such as those posed by urbanization,
climate change, gender refinement, and social stratification.
Background
Health systems are often thought of consisting of health services such as health
promotion and acute care. However, the extent of success of this organization depends heavily
on how well they are supported and organized. Every organization promoting primary health
care requires a well –organized and resourced corporate support functions to ensure adequate
services to the community. Most of the significant barrier to facilitate sustainable fundamental

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healthcare innovation and effectiveness are to be found in the corporate domain. Also, there is a
need to recognize the right of indigenous people to be active participants in developing and
determining health programs. Denial of control in an individual’s life and stress produced could
act as a critical cause of ill-health. Indeed, they ought to participate in delivering health services
through their institutions when necessary (Pulvirenti, McMillan & Lawn, 2014). To achieve
person-centred care, health needs of society require a resolution at an original level, and primary
health care experts together with the communal necessitate to support as they build expertise and
awareness needed to address local health needs.
Compare and contrast different functions of PHNs and LHDs
PHNs are independent organizations with sections carefully allied with those of public
and territory local hospital networks (LHN). Additionally, they have skill founded boards that
are learnt by medical bodies and public advisory commissions. Moreover, PHNs are recognized
to mitigate the concerns of the division of health service distribution, promote the use of primary
health care service and attain more proficient incorporation of primary health with critical care
amenities (Mossialos et al. 2015).
PHNs in relation with LHDs emphasis on how a person experiences healthcare and the
amount of connectedness practiced by patients when traversing the health system. Additionally,
PHNs and LHDs have a role of supporting general practices in customary zones of public health
such as health checks, smoking termination weight decrease and involvements engrossed on
situations such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Both PHNs and LHDs work with other
primary health care systems such as communal nurses and chemists concerning secondary and
tertiary health care services (Baum, & Dwyer, 2014). Similarly, PHNs and LHDs plays a role to
warrant that health amenities are readily available and personalized to public requirements.

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Indeed the dual provides a vital role in producing cost savings via decreasing possibly avoidable
hospitalization and enhance care organization especially for those at risk of pitiable health
outcomes. Comparatively PHNs work collaboratively with LHDs to minimize hospital admission
re-admission.
In spite of similarities between PHNs and LHDs, there are some differences. PHNs is a
system that seeks to provide efficient, unified and responsible care for everybody with chronic
illness and various-comorbidities (Hegarty et al. 2015). On the contrary, LHDs are state-based
entities fully funded by a state government in which they help create and maintain healthier
conditions in communities despite the local community not always recognizing work done by
local health districts. PHNs tend to involve communities and patients in all stages systematically
(Booth et al., 2016). It entails PHNs to work with societies to recognize desires and ambitions as
well as work with patients and caregivers to improve quality and safety. Indeed, PHNs are
directed by the patient knowledge of the organization and consumer-led concepts for health
system enhancement. In contrast, LHDs seldom involves community since it an already
commissioned cycle.
Regarding accountability, LHDs tend to cover mainly urban areas which are
characterized by the high accessibility of services. In contrast, PHNs are widely found in rural
and remote communities. Subsequently, PHNs provide promotion at both homegrown and
national levels where there is a need for structural change (Ducket &, Willcox, 2015). Indeed,
they also offer better health advancement and upgraded health knowledge via curriculums for
provider and user target groups. PHNs are tasked with cost-effectively solving service delivery
gaps. Occasionally, PHNs may select to fill the existing gap by backing new amenities through
their minor, unrestricted flexible funding budget.

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Budget
Public Health Networks is funded by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to deliver
services in rural and remote communities. However, there are specific incidences in which PHNs
tend to be partially funded by the federal government. In contrast, local health districts are fully
supported by a national government and frequently report to the mayor, city council county panel
of health or county commission (Bell, Wilson, Bissonnette & Shah, 2013).
Challenges
Integration of both PHNs and LHDs faces a problem of increased catchment which
makes their capability to be useful quite hard. Furthermore, it will be difficult for PHNs and
LHDs to reveal every society’s requirements in their preparation and sustenance for local
primary health care services (McGrail & Humphreys, 2014). People from different zones tend to
have different needs. Also, there is a challenge of appropriate financial resource and staff,
especially in rural areas.
Recommendations
Local health districts should have an expression in the resolve of strategies and
procedures for the advance of national public health programs. LHDs should progress a mutual
understanding of the roles and accountabilities of PHNs, encompassing their duties in health
advancement and addressing common elements of health. Also, LHDs should pursue to create a
tactical partnership with PHNs that target to resolve variances in application and culture and
advance the harmonization of primary health care. PHNs should certify that network activity
attains assessable short and long-term benefits. PHNs ought to dedicate resources to stimulating
engagement with LHDs and other shareholders to progress strategic partnership in planning and

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program execution (McMillan et al. 2013). State and the federal government should recognize
that PHNs and LHDs entail long-term investment, funding, and organizational stability and
support to certify they have enough time and conviction to build and maintain associations.
Conclusion
Overall PHNs and LHDs constitute a significant role in advancing Australia to excellent
person-centred healthcare. Despite the primary health care ought to form the backbone of a
health system and that policy to be directed towards conveying a reorientation towards and
strengthening of primary health care. The imminent for health is person-centred care and to
accomplish it the health needs of a community ought to be undertaken at a local level. Also, it
typified that the system is under significant cost pressure and the focus has to be on immediate
measures to minimize the demand for a hospital (Novak et al., 2012). Despite intense political
will to reduce health care cost, it does not appear to extend to the sufficient political will to
contrast powerful vested interests which drive increased costs. Primary health network is an
indispensable part of health care. It is essential principles are equity, health promotion, disease
inhibition community partaking, and suitable health expertise as well as the multi-sectorial tactic.
Health promotion and disease prevention processes involve support from the public, health
policy and multi-disciplinary method.

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