Community health centre cohealth has been thrown a short-term funding lifeline, saving general practitioner (GP) services at three of its Melbourne locations from imminent closure.
The federal government today announced it would inject up to $1.5 million in partnership with cohealth to allow the free GP service to continue running until July 31 next year.
During that time, a government-commissioned independent review of cohealth’s GP service model, governance and finances will help determine the next steps for the health provider, Health Minister Mark Butler said.
GP services at cohealth’s Collingwood branch was one of three earmarked for closure.Pic Simon Schluter (The Age)
Cohealth provides more than 46 vital health care services across 30 sites in Melbourne and Tasmania’s east coast.
“These clinics are a lifeline for many patients with complex needs, including mental health concerns and serious alcohol and other drug issues,” Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) Victoria addiction medicine spokesperson Dr Eric Hadinata said.
Cohealth’s announcement comes after the organisation last month revealed a lack of funding would force it to stop offering GP services at its Fitzroy, Collingwood and Kensington locations as early as December.
“The GP-led complex care model has for many years been underfunded, placing growing financial strain on cohealth and threatening the viability of our other vital services relied on by thousands of people,” cohealth said in a statement.
“We could no longer sustain the growing gap between the cost of delivering complex community-based care and the funding available.”
The “unavoidable” decision left many of cohealth’s 12,500 impacted patients, along with staff, furious.
In response to the backlash, cohealth decided to defer the clinic closures to February, before the federal government came on board with a cash splash.
“We want our communities to know – we heard you, and your voices matter,” Cohealth said.
News of the closure left staff and clients outraged, sparking an emergency meeting for Fitzroy locals. Photo: Eddie Jim. (The Age)
“We listened and acted out of a profound moral obligation to these clients and to the communities that hold and support them. “
Cohealth said it has called for a long-term sustainable funding solution for “many years” and welcomed news of an independent review.
“The cohealth board remains dedicated to safeguarding the essential health and social services that communities rely on, particularly those experiencing significant health and social challenges,” the company said in a statement.
“We will continue to work with federal and state governments, our leadership team, our GPs, nurses and care teams, and the community health sector to ensure people with complex needs receive the trusted, wrap-around and locally connected care that keeps our communities alive.”
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said cohealth’s GP services wasn’t “out of the woods yet” but said it was a positive step forward.
“These clinics provide invaluable care to some of the city’s most vulnerable patient groups.
“If patients can’t access these services, their health and wellbeing will deteriorate, and many of them will instead present to hospital emergency departments.
“Unless we can find a way forward, many people will fall through the cracks of our health system – an avoidable tragedy that will compromise patient care.”