Womens Health Business Case Report

ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSAL 3.1 The Base Case

This year Centres are seeking to cover deficits by: • making skilled clinical and health education staff redundant • leaving critical positions vacant and either reducing services, or relying on remaining staff to work extended unpaid hours • attempting to attract additional donations and fundraising • drawing down on limited reserves Our analysis found that, despite implementing cost saving measures such as redundancies and maintaining vacancies, total immediate operating deficits are equivalent to approximately 37% of current Women’s Health Program funding. These deficits are not sustainable. Without the additional investment proposed in this business case, many Women’s Health Centres will be forced to close in the next 2 years, or reduce services to a point where there is no capacity to deliver program outcomes. KEY MESSAGES • The proposed investment in the Women’s Health Program covers the 20 Women’s Health Centres operating across 11 NSW Local Health Districts and as well as the sector co-ordination and support services provided by the peak body, Women’s Health NSW. • Services to be delivered with the proposed investment in the Women’s Health Program will continue to vary by Centre and location, reflecting community needs and the current priorities identified by each Local Health District in existing funding agreements. 3.2 Information about the Proposal

KEY MESSAGES • Current funding of the Women’s Health Program for all Women’s Health Centres is unsustainable. • Our analysis found that, despite implementing cost saving measures such as redundancies and leaving critical positions vacant, total immediate operating deficits are equivalent to approximately 37% of current Women’s Health Program funding. • Without additional investment, many Centres will be forced to close in the next 2 years , or significantly reduce services. Current funding of the Women’s Health Program for all Women’s Health Centres is unsustainable. Despite this rapidly growing need for health services, and NSW Government policy priorities to enhance community-based health care, Women’s Health Centres are being forced to make skilled mental health, clinical and health education staff redundant. At least three quarters of Women’s Health Centres currently have immediate operating deficits associated with the Women’s Health Program. The deficits reflect the gap between 2022-23 Women’s Health Program funding and baseline staff structure required to deliver core services to meet targets set by Local Health Districts.

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Women’s Health NSW – October 2022