TO anticipate what is expected to be delivered by the Sydney South West Medicare Local the only information we health consumers have are these comments by Mr Rene Pennock on the website of the SSW GP Link, the umbrella organisation which includes the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice.
Concerned health practitioners and other health service providers may take comfort from the final dot point in the Division's commentary:
"They will be accountable to local communities to make sure the services are effective and of high quality."
It will become our responsibility to ensure that this accountability is enshrined in this Medicare Local. To do that the health consumers and health care providers need to be proportionately represented on the Board of this Medicare Local.
Already, the GPs on the Boards of the current two Divisions of General Practice (Macarthur and Southern Highlands) are moving to exclude non-GPs on the SSW Medicare Local by suggesting that only GPs have the organisational expertise to manage effectively a Medicare Local.
Well, that's news to me and to other people who have effectively managed health service organisations of even greater magnitude.
What are Medicare Locals?
Medicare
Locals will be primary health care organisations established to
coordinate primary health care delivery and tackle local health care
needs and service gaps.
They will drive improvements in primary health care and ensure that services are better tailored to meet the needs of local communities.
Medicare Locals will have a number of key roles in improving primary health care services for local communities.
They will drive improvements in primary health care and ensure that services are better tailored to meet the needs of local communities.
Medicare Locals will have a number of key roles in improving primary health care services for local communities.
- They will make it easier for patients to access the services they need, by linking local GPs, nursing and other health professionals, hospitals and aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations, and maintaining up to date local service directories.
- They will work closely with Local Hospital Networks to make sure that primary health care services and hospitals work well together for their patients.
- They will plan and support local after hours face-to-face GP services.
- They will identify where local communities are missing out on services they might need and coordinate services to address those gaps.
- They will support local primary care providers, such as GPs, practice nurses and allied health providers, to adopt and meet quality standards.
- They will be accountable to local communities to make sure the services are effective and of high quality.
