Media release from ProCare

The Franklin community is to benefit from better collaboration of health professionals and a wider range of health services being delivered in their community with the launch of the Franklin Locality Clinical Partnership today (LCP) (ed: 10 Sept).

The Franklin LCP is a formal partnership between Counties Manukau Health, ProCare PHO and Franklin general practices (Waiuku Health Plus Medical Centre, Pukekohe Family Health Centre, Pukekohe Medical Services, Seddon Street Medical Centre & Tuakau Health), the locality's hospitals, Allied Health services, pharmacies, and social services such as the Whare Oranga marae services delivered by ProCare and Huakina Development Trust.

The partnership's priority is to improve Franklin's patient experiences and health outcomes by delivering an increasing number of healthcare services closer to patients' homes, in the community, which will remove the frustrations of referral delays and the inconvenience of additional travel costs and family life interruptions associated with travelling to Middlemore Hospital.

ProCare and CM Health have both committed to a shared approach to providing patient care in Franklin, with recognition that GPs and general practice will remain the central relationship point for patients. For patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, it means the district nurse, GP, pharmacist and hospital specialists working together and sharing information to give the best possible care.

"This is a really exciting time for Franklin as we're pioneering real 'system-change' based on the clear, shared vision that we want to improve our patients' experiences and journey by better integrating services around their 'Medical Home' the General Practice, and supporting the growth of community-based infrastructure ," says Geoff Smith, the LCP's newly appointed General Manager, Clinical Partnership - Franklin.

Reflecting the spirit of partnership, Geoff has been seconded from his position as ProCare's Senior Manager for People, Culture & Communications to this new locality development role, based at CM Health. Geoff is a Franklin resident and also a Board member of a number of community and business organisations in Franklin.

Geoff will oversee the implementation of a shared business plan that will include tangible initiatives such as a rehabilitation pilot for the elderly at Pukekohe and Franklin hospitals; a primary care-led palliative care programme; GPs being offered the chance to develop special interest areas of expertise and offer them on site at their practices; and GPs and specialists being bought together to offer services on site at the marae clinics at Whare Oranga.

As well as improving ease of access to services, the partnership aims to help stem the growing cost burden on Auckland's hospital system, as more patients will be better supported with coordinated services that help them avoid hospital admission.

"This partnership is also important for increasing the capability of our wider community of GPs, nurses, public health staff, aged care staff and general practice staff, helping to grow their areas of expertise, responsibilities and job satisfaction as they start to see better patient outcomes for their patients they care deeply about," says Geoff.

Franklin is the first of four LCPs that CM Health is developing over the next few years.
Other localities are likely to follow around Auckland.