ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights developments in promoting health in health care settings. The initial government responsibility for the provision of medical facilities and medical care for the colonists changed and expanded to meet the needs of an increasing population, through the provision of private medical facilities and treatment. Primary health care is one approach that combines health care delivery with principles of participation, community development and health promotion. Challenges remain in implementing integrated health services, in terms of the priorities of health promotion and illness prevention within such a framework. Traditional forms of health promotion in hospital settings have included patient education, employee health and safety programs, and the provision of preventive and screening services to the local community. The links between health care services and their communities have an increasingly important role in promoting health among patients. Health care delivery in Australia is changing rapidly, with new integrated roles for health care services and the communities they serve.
