GCPHN position – local fuel supply

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to acknowledge the current period of global economic uncertainty and the emerging impacts this is having locally, including rising fuel costs and broader cost of living pressures.

We are aware that global events are contributing to volatility in fuel prices and supply, and that this may be placing additional pressure on commissioned service providers, general practices, aged care providers, workforces and the communities you support. At this stage, advice from both the Australian and Queensland Governments remains focused on monitoring and reporting impacts, rather than directing changes to service delivery or operating arrangements.

From Gold Coast Primary Health Network’s perspective, our immediate focus is on three things:

• maintaining continuity and safety of services for patients and priority populations across the region.
• understanding any emerging impacts on providers and general practices, including workforce availability, service access, outreach capacity or cost pressures that may affect delivery under existing agreements.
• keeping open, transparent communication with commissioned service providers, general practices and aged care providers as the situation evolves.

For our commissioned service providers, at this point, there are no changes to commissioning arrangements or contractual expectations.

We recognise that conditions may shift, and we want to ensure we have early visibility of any issues that could affect service delivery or sustainability. If you are experiencing, or anticipate, impacts related to fuel costs, workforce constraints, or access challenges for clients, patients or residents, we encourage you to raise these with your GCPHN key contact as early as possible. Commissioned service providers can speak to their GCPHN contract manager, while general practices and aged care providers can reach out to their GCPHN engagement officer.

We are actively monitoring the situation through our senior leadership team and in coordination with state and Commonwealth guidance. We will continue to provide updates where there is new advice or where implications for commissioned services become clearer. In the meantime, we encourage you to review your business continuity plans so that you are better prepared regardless of how the situation develops.

Importantly, we also acknowledge that global instability and economic pressure can have a very real human impact, our people, our clients and communities. We appreciate the work you are doing under challenging conditions and value your partnership and professionalism.

Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.

Kind regards,
Angi

Angi Bissell
Chief Executive Officer
Gold Coast Primary Health Network