Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Service Planning

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network will develop 5-10 year service plans for Yorke and Northern communities.

Health service planning aims to improve service delivery and system performance to best meet the local population's health needs. It includes aligning the delivery of existing health services to meet the changing demand patterns and use of services. In addition, it aims to make the most effective use of available and future health resources (funding, staff and infrastructure).

A dedicated Service Planning Steering Group oversees the development of each Yorke and Northern Health Service Plan. The Steering Group includes local health professionals and community representatives. Through significant engagement with a range of key stakeholders, the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network develops Service Plans explicitly tailored to each community.

Service Plans

Balaklava Service Plan Updates

Yorke Peninsula Service Plan Consultation Update

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN) will soon release a Draft Yorke Peninsula Service Plan for public consultation. Community members, staff, local organisations and stakeholders will be invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback on the future direction of health services across the Yorke Peninsula.

The Service Plan considers services provided through:

  • Wallaroo, Maitland and Yorketown hospitals
  • Minlaton Aged Care
  • Mental Health services
  • Country Health Connect

Your feedback is important and will help ensure the plan reflects local priorities, experiences and aspirations for healthcare in our region.

What is the Yorke Peninsula Service Plan?

The Service Plan is a strategic document that outlines a strategy for developing health services over the next 5–10 years to meet the changing needs of the community.

It focuses on:

  • Hospital services, including emergency care, inpatient care, rehabilitation, palliative care and outpatient services
  • Community and out-of-hospital services provided through Country Health Connect
  • Mental health services
  • Residential aged care services
  • Workforce sustainability and future models of care
  • Infrastructure and service capability across the region

The plan aims to ensure health services remain safe, high-quality and sustainable while enabling people to receive care as close to home as possible.

How is this different from the Public Health Plan?

Several community members have asked about the relationship between the Service Plan and the recently released Yorke Peninsula Public Health Plan. Although they are complementary, they have different purposes.

Yorke Peninsula Service Plan (YNLHN)

Focuses on healthcare services and clinical care. It considers:

  • What services are provided
  • Where services are delivered
  • How services can be improved and coordinated
  • How we build a sustainable workforce and strengthen local models of care

Yorke Peninsula Public Health Plan (Councils)

Focuses on keeping people healthy and preventing illness. It considers broader factors that influence health and wellbeing, including:

  • Physical activity
  • Healthy eating
  • Mental wellbeing
  • Social connection
  • Environmental health

What does this mean:

The Public Health Plan focuses on helping people stay well, while the Service Plan focuses on ensuring people have access to the healthcare services they need when they become unwell or require ongoing support.

Together, these plans will support a coordinated and holistic approach to improving health and wellbeing across the Yorke Peninsula.

Have Your Say

The Draft Yorke Peninsula Service Plan has been informed by previous community and clinician engagement, as well as recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry into local health services.

Once the draft plan is released, we encourage everyone to:

  • Read the draft Service Plan
  • Consider whether it reflects the needs of your community
  • Share your ideas and suggestions

More information about how to access the draft plan and provide feedback will be available soon.

Your voice matters. By reviewing the draft Service Plan and sharing your feedback, you can help shape strong, sustainable and community-focused health services for the Yorke Peninsula now and into the future.