How do we commission services?
Our PHN's commissioning strategy is an ongoing process of planning, purchasing and monitoring services to meet the needs of our communities.
Commissioning
Health care commissioning is defined as the process of “planning and purchasing health services to meet the health needs of a local population” . It is a continual cycle that involves planning, designing or procuring, monitoring and evaluating health services to make sure they are performing well and improving the health of the communities that they work within.
HNECC’s approach to commissioning involves an ongoing collaborative relationship with service providers, clinicians, consumers and other stakeholders so that services are designed and delivered to meet community needs in key priority areas.
This diagram outlines HNECC’s commissioning cycle:
Ref: The Kings Fund (2014) Briefing - Clinical commissioning: what can we learn from previous commissioning models? https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/p...
HNECC is one of 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) funded by the Australian Government to commission programs and services. Commissioning is a core activity of PHNs, and underpins all the work that we do. PHNs do not provide health services, but rather commission them and support service providers to improve efficiency and quality.
How do we decommission services?
Decommissioning is a crucial part of the commissioning cycle and is undertaken in a planned way to ensure that the most effective services are delivered, making best use of the resources available.
What services do we commission?
Our Primary Health Network works with local primary health care providers, Hunter New England and Central Coast Local Health Districts and Community Managed Organisations to meet local health care needs across our region.
How do we commission services for First Nations?
We commission health services to address the identified needs and priorities of our First Nations communities.
How do I tender?
Commissioning is a new approach for many providers so we have prepared a series of webinars to explain the tendering process and help you to prepare a competitive tender response.
Driving Quality Service Improvements
As part of ongoing improvement in service commissioning, the Primary Health Network is transforming the way we measure the impact and the quality of the health services we fund within our region.
Upcoming commissioning opportunities and announcements
Access information about current tenders for health services and commissioning of services
Commissioning Resources
These resources can support provider organisations to implement continuous quality improvement in these key areas, improving the quality of the services they deliver, and supporting compliance with the contracts held with HNECC.
Commissioned service provider toolkit
The toolkit gives service providers an understanding of the purpose and roles of Primary Health Networks, and specifically our PHN.
By clearly articulating the role of the PHN and the service provider, we will be able to work together more effectively to improve health outcomes for our communities.
Latest commissioning news
April 03 2024
PHN YES Survey identifies patient experience of services
PHN commissioned service provider, Hunter Primary Care, achieved the highest number of responses to the recent PHN YES Survey.
February 14 2024
Glen Innes Health Hub Pilot
A Better Health for the Bush Initiative
The Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (the PHN) has successfully secured pilot funding under the Federal Government’s Innovative Models of Care (IMOC) Program, which will see Glen Innes as a pilot site to introduce an innovative healthcare model.
January 22 2024
New free mental health service confirmed for Upper Hunter
Upper Hunter residents will soon have greater access to free mental health support with Social Futures* confirmed as the provider of a new Head to Health centre for the region.
November 29 2023
Pitch Night: Does your organisation have an innovative suicide prevention program that will benefit the community?
Pitch Night is back in 2024, with Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) and The Funding Network (TFN) hosting two live crowdfunding events in April at Lake Macquarie and Tamworth. The events will support four organisations to share their story and raise vital program funds so they can localise their suicide prevention pilot projects to support our communities.