Critical negotiations are set to take place between Peel's landmark health clinic for young people and a WA agency concerning the funding of a much-needed care coordination role.
The Mandurah Mail has been reporting on the Peel Health Hub's push to have two care coordinator roles funded after spokeswoman Eleanor Britton said the clinic was "under the pump" since it opened in November 2018.
The Peel Health Hub has nine health organisations operating under the same roof.
Ms Britton said the organisations aimed to work together seamlessly, but this was not happening as it should be due to an increase in clientele.
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She feared Mandurah's vulnerable young people would "fall through the cracks".
The Mail spoke with different service providers at the Hub who agreed they needed care coordinators to assess walk-ins, so every young person would receive help as promised.
In parliament, WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the funding should come from the federal government.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt encouraged the Hub to contact WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA), which distributes federal government funding.
In November 2018, WAPHA did not approve an application by the Peel Health Hub to fund the care coordinator role in preparation for the facility becoming a reality.
But, WAPHA commissioned services general manager Mark Cockayne said now the Hub had opened its doors, the application would be reassessed.
"WAPHA has been in ongoing discussions on this matter with GP Down South and has recently received a revised proposal from them for the proposed care coordinator roles based at the Hub," he said.
"A meeting will be held between our two organisations within the next fortnight to progress this matter."
Mr Cockayne said the organisation had received the initial application after allocating funding to various other services in the Hub.
"WAPHA funded preliminary work to develop the Peel Health Hub shared model of care in preparation for the Hub's opening in December 2018," he said.
"We also funded a range of health service providers to provide services to local young people out of the Hub including youth mental health (headspace), Aboriginal health, social work, counselling, and alcohol and other drugs.
"Around the same time, we received a care coordination proposal from GP Down South, the Hub's operator.
"Our decision was not to progress at that time, given the Hub had only recently started up, and we expected the aforementioned shared model of care would ensure integrated and coordinated care for the young people accessing the various services."
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
