Medicare Locals
As part of the reform, the government has announced the establishment of Medicare Locals - a national network of primary health care organisations charged with driving improvements in primary health care and ensuring that primary health care services meet the needs of local communities.
Other areas of key focus in primary health care reform include: better access to after-hours GP care, more GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals working in general practice, more GP Super Clinics, and more support for Australians living with diabetes.
The role of Medicare Locals
The government has tasked Medicare Locals with:
- making it easier for people to access the services they need, by linking local GPs, nursing and other health professionals, hospitals and aged care, and maintaining local service directories
- working closely with Local Hospital Networks to make sure that primary health care services and hospitals work well together for their patients
- planning and supporting local after –hours face-to-face GP services
- identifying local communities are missing out on services they might need and coordinating services to address those gaps
- supporting local primary care providers to adopt and meet quality standards
Medicare Locals in Queensland
62 Medicare Locals will be established nationally with 11 of these to be in Queensland. The first tranche of Medicare Locals have evolved from high performing divisions of general practice. 19 Medicare Locals across Australia commenced operation from 1 July 2011, five of these are in Queensland. The remainder will commence in January and July 2012.
The five Queensland Medical Locals that have commenced operation are:
- Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local
- Gold Coast Medicare Local
- Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local
- Townsville-Mackay Medicare Local
- West Moreton-Oxley Medicare Local
For more information please see: