Report on the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Network

In response to the evolving healthcare challenges in South Eastern New South Wales, this report outlines a strategic framework for enhancing the region’s health services. Established under Australia’s Primary Health Networks, the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Networks aims to address significant health concerns and issues identified including high rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations, increasing chronic conditions, mental health crises, rising substance abuse, and inadequate culturally tailored health services. This report proposes four evidence-based recommendations: shifting chronic condition management to pre-hospital settings, enhancing emergency departments with 24-h mental health coverage, implementing a universal substance use screening tool, and redesigning culturally appropriate services. These recommendations are evaluated based on Duckett and Willcox’s criteria for an ideal health system, aiming to improve service efficiency, equity, quality, and acceptability.