Improving Access to Palliative Care Medications in Residential Aged Care

⁠⁠⁠ABOUT MURRUMBIDGEE PRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK: MPHN is one of 31 local and independent PHNs established nationally to support the primary health care sector. MPHN works to:
- support the development of a local sustainable health care workforce through providing quality improvement and professional development for our primary health care workforce of GPs, nurses, pharmacists, allied health care professionals and specialists;
- ensure efficient and effective delivery of high quality patient-centred care and improve health outcomes, particularly for those at-risk or vulnerable populations. Part of this role is to integrate local services and systems and improve coordination of care; and
- continually monitor, assess and analyse the health needs of our region through our health needs assessments to ensure we are able to commission services addressing the health needs in the community.

All PHNs have been set seven key priority areas guiding our work including:
- Mental health
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- Population health
- Health workforce
- Digital health
- Aged care
- Alcohol and other drugs

ABOUT THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP):
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health to work with key local stakeholders to plan, coordinate and support population based after hours health services.
Most Australians nominate home, whether that be a private house or a residential aged care facility, as their preferred place for end of life care. However, if end of life symptoms are not well controlled particularly in the after hours period, this can lead to unnecessary suffering and unplanned hospital admissions.
The outcome of this activity is to better understand and address the barriers to accessing appropriate palliative care medications in the after hours period for residents of aged care facilities, including support for implementation and maintenance of a robust imprest system within the facility.
The activity will involve consultation with key stakeholders, including Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), general practitioners, community pharmacies, and specialist palliative care services.

OPPORTUNITY ON OFFER
MPHN is seeking the engagement of a suitably qualified and experienced organisation/s that can use effective processes and stakeholder engagement strategies to achieve the outcomes of this activity.
Applicants must have demonstrated experience and understanding of residential aged care sector and health care delivery in rural areas. Applicants must be able to demonstrate previous successful delivery of similar activities involving primary and aged care.
Experience and/or understanding of medication access and management for end of life care in residential aged care would be considered advantageous.
Joint or consortium applications will be accepted. This is an open competitive process.