Womens Health Business Case Report

Summary of Investment Scenarios Projected levels of sustainable investment, which would ensure the continuity of the Women’s Health Program, have been modelled under the three scenarios outlined below (costs and estimated savings are presented in 2023-24 dollars).

Scenario #

Goal

Description

Total Proposed Investment $ (2023-24)

Estimated Costs Avoided $ (2023-24)

Return on Investment % (2023-24)

1

Sustain activities, service levels and outcomes for the Women’s Health Program which are currently contracted by Local Health Districts

Recalibrates costing for the current Women’s Health Program to reflect the major structural adjustments that have occurred. Represents the minimum level of Women’s Health Program funding required by Women’s Health Centres to remain viable and continue operating this program. The estimated level of Women’s Health Program funding required by Women’s Health Centres to remain viable and sustain the levels of service delivery and outcomes that they are currently providing – over and above targets - to meet community needs. Provides a strong indication of immediate and acute health needs in local communities and it is strongly recommended that the Ministry of Health consider funding the Women’s Health Program at this level. Proposed enhanced investment in the Women’s Health Program to address emerging demographic trends and both acute and emerging needs seen by Women’s Health Centres in local communities. Subject to negotiation with the Ministry of Health and Local Health Districts, this level of investment would enable Women’s Health Centres to sustainably expand service delivery in response to need.

$19.06 million $32.6 million 71%

2

Sustain activities, service levels and outcomes for the Women’s Health Program which are currently being delivered by Women’s Health Centres

$19.97 million $35.6 million 78%

3

Expand and enhance activities and service levels for the Women’s Health Program to address unmet need, population growth and emerging local health issues identified by each Women’s Health Centre

$30.86 million $56.4 million 83%

Outcomes framework for implementation NSW Health’s Commissioning for Better Value approach aims to shift the focus in health care from outputs to outcomes. The Women’s Health sector recognises that consistent assessment of improvements in health outcomes is critical to demonstrating effectiveness and the ongoing value of services. Women’s Health Centres participated in a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health to develop a standard outcome and reporting framework. Unfortunately, consistent roll out of this standard reporting framework across LHDs was hampered by the onset of COVID and, due to the nature of the core services provided and the resource limitations on current data capture in WHCs, and the performance indicators proposed were predominately output indicators. However, despite COVID disruptions, the sector has made some progress in implementing both validated and non-validated tools to improve outcomes measurement. As part of implementing the increased investment outlined in this business case, Women’s Health Centres propose a new outcomes framework focusing on key presenting health issues, and standardised outcomes measurement tools. The proposed framework builds on previous collaborative work with the Ministry of Health. Sector-wide roll out of the standard outcomes framework would be led and supported by the peak body, Women’s Health NSW.

6

Sustainable Investment in the NSWNGOWomen’s Health Program