Older people the focus of Community Health Plan

Minister for Health John Thwaites with City of Port Phillip’s Cr Carolyn Hutchens, Inner South East Partnership in Community and Health consumer representative Jacquie Connelly and ISEPICH Project Manager Barry Hahn at the launch of Community Health Plans.

Inner South East Partnership in Community and Health (ISEPICH) has identified prevention of falls and other injuries among older people for priority action in its Community Health Plan.

ISEPICH is one of 32 Primary Health Partnerships whose Community Health Plans have been launched by Minister for Health John Thwaites.

Primary Care Partnerships were established a year ago and are alliances of health care agencies, GPs, nurses, local government and other health professionals aimed at providing a one-stop community-based health service.

ISEPICH is the Primary Health Partnership for the local council areas of Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip.

It is made up of about 40 primary health care service providers.

It also encourages participation by members of the community so services can respond to community needs.

As well as the falls prevention project ISEPICH’s Community Health Plan health promotion missions include:

• Increasing opportunities for more physical activity in the community;

• A scheme to meet the needs of people in insecure housing by working with them in the settings in which they live;

• A project to help prevent depression.

The Plan includes improvements in communication about health by ensuring information meets people’s needs and is available in the language they understand.

It also incorporates measures to enhance communications between primary care services so people do not have to keep repeating themselves or feel they are being shuffled between services.

• For more information about ISEPICH visit www.portphillip.vic.gov.au or contact Project Manager Barry Hahn on 9209 6455 or email bhahn@portphillip.vic.gov.au.

• For more information about the Primary Health Partnership Community Health Plans visit http://hnb.dhs.vic.gov.au/acmh/phkb.nsf.