We recently engaged in consultation with our PSS consortium service providers, CESPHN Clinical Council and the CESPHN Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group to review the current workforce challenges facing the PSS program and develop strategies to address these challenges. A few recommendations were made and supported in these consultations, resulting in the following changes to PSS effective 1 July 2021:
Care coordination sessions for children 0-12 years now available
Two care coordination sessions for children 0-12 years are available to PSS mental health practitioners to:
work within the system and holistically across the dimensions of the individual’s experiences including phone calls to family members, child and adolescent MH services, Medical Practitioners and other providers involved in the individual’s care.
work with other community and social services to support an individual’s mental health, including education, housing, other local community services, justice, and family violence services.
improve coordination between services to ensure appropriate referrals are made including between child and adolescent specific care services, and Medical Practitioners.
GP review process has been streamlined
PSS clients are no longer required to return to their GPs for a review after session 6. Clients are still required to obtain GP MHTP to access PSS, and will require a GP review following session 12, for further approval for sessions 13-18 (under exceptional circumstances).
As part of this change, it is mandatory that the PSS mental health practitioners communicate via letter to the GP/referrer following session 6, to ensure the GP/referrer is kept abreast of treatment progress and ongoing mental health issues. The GP can contact their patient to arrange a review appointment, should the GP feel that this is required based on the information provided in the letter. Further treatment sessions (7-12) will not be released by CESPHN until evidence of GP communication has been provided by the PSS mental health practitioner. There is nil change to the GP review process at Session 12.
If you have any query about these changes, please contact the CESPHN Mental Health Intake and Triage team on 1300 170 554.
Our PSS brochure and PSS referrers guide can be found on the CESPHN website or via the links below:
Maroubra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is now open The Maroubra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is now open, seven days a week, from 8.00am to 8.00pm. It was officially launched by member for Kingsford Smith, the hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP (pictured at the launch with CESPHN CEO Nathalie Hansen…
Media Release: Central and Eastern Sydney PHN releases Healthy Ageing Strategy to empower older people In response to the increasing longevity and rapid growth of the older population the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) is proud to release its new Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023-2028. This comprehensive strategy…
Launch of new Australian Guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular disease risk The 2023 Australian Guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular disease risk, and associated Australian cardiovascular disease risk calculator (Aus CVD Risk Calculator), will become the new standard of care for the primary prevention of CVD in Australia. This…
At CESPHN we value your feedback and invite you to complete the 2023 stakeholder engagement survey At CESPHN, we value your feedback and invite you to complete the stakeholder engagement survey on our service delivery and communication over the past 12 months. This short survey only takes five minutes and…
CESPHN Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023-28 has been released The Central and Eastern Sydney PHN has developed a Healthy Ageing Strategy to empower older people in our region to live more active and fulfilling lives, enabled by inclusive communities, and supported by integrated person-centred health and social services. Healthy ageing relies…
NSW community urged to be on alert amid rise in listeriosis NSW Health is reminding people who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or aged over 65 years to avoid foods that can cause listeriosis, following several confirmed cases of listeria infection in NSW. Listeriosis infection, which comes from consuming food contaminated with…
CESPHN Primary Health Awards: 2023 Finalists and Winners announced At a packed event last night at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Gymea, CESPHN held its annual Primary Health Awards. CESPHN’s multicultural community was reflected in our numerous and diverse submissions. All immensely impressive. The winners, announced at the awards event,…