  Preface
The concept of ‘person-centred’ or
‘patient-centred’ health care is increasingly
acknowledged by health professionals as an important
focus, particularly in the care of people with
long-term conditions. Some will now be familiar with
the use of this term as short-hand for a set of
principles to guide the planning and delivery of
health care, while others may be unfamiliar with the
language but nevertheless agree with the
longstanding move towards health care that aligns
with both medical evidence and what is appropriate
for the individual.
This discussion paper deals with
some of the practical ways in which primary care
services including general practice, allied health
services and community pharmacy can incorporate
principles of patient-centred care. It has been
produced following the National Asthma Council
Australia’s Patient-Centred Health Care Workshop,
held 25–27 November 2005 and funded by Pfizer
Australia and the Australian Government Department
of Health and Ageing. It draws on the workshop
report: Patient- Centred Health Care Workshop
November 2005 – Report of Proceedings, available on
the National Asthma Council Australia website.
As well as exploring how the health
system might be adapted to better suit the needs of
patients at the levels of policy, funding and
infrastructure, participants recognised that all
health professionals can and should ensure that
their own practices are responsive to patients’
needs. The workshop acknowledged that many GPs,
practice nurses and other primary care health
professionals are already working in accordance with
these principles.
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