Funding for cesphn in response to Royal Commission into Aged Care

6 April 2023
Telehealth

Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) is receiving funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care to support the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission).

The Royal Commission examined the complex issues being faced by senior Australians at the interface of the primary health care and aged care systems, such as: lack of access to general practitioners (GPs) and allied health professionals in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), difficulties accessing after-hours services, and inappropriate transfers to hospitals, all of which contribute to poor outcomes for senior Australians and increased pressure on the health system.

Funding will be offered to RACFs in the CESPHN region to increase availability and use of telehealth care for aged care residents. This will enable participating RACFs to have appropriate virtual consultation facilities to support their residents through telehealth with primary care providers and for afterhours care.

Alongside the funding, CESPHN is committed to:

Provide education and training resources to improve the capacity of RACF staff to assist residents with accessing telehealth consultations.
Encourage the registration and use of My Health Record by RACFs to improve safe and secure sharing of information between healthcare providers.

For more information, please contact Carol Tran at c.tran@cesphn.com.au or Amani Zeitoune a.zeitoune@cesphn.com.au