DESPITE job uncertainty, Southern NSW Medicare Local CEO Kathryn Stonestreet has welcomed the Federal Government’s long awaited announcement of geographical boundaries for the new Primary Health Networks.
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Federal Minister for Health Peter Dutton announced the boundaries for 30 Primary Health Networks across Australia last week.
The Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are a Coalition budget measure and will replace the nation’s 61 Medicare Locals from July 2015.
Ms Stonestreet said the current Southern NSW and Illawarra Shoalhaven Medicare Local boundaries will be merged into one area, and will be known as the South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network.
“We have been preparing for a tender bid since the PHNs were announced in the May budget, including early discussions with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Medicare Local and other possible partner organisations.
“We are pleased to finally know the boundaries,” she said.
“Applications to become the new PHN are expected to open at the end of the year and knowing the boundaries will allow development of business models and meaningful discussion about collaboration to commence.”
Ms Stonestreet said that against a backdrop of uncertainty, it is very much “business as usual” for her organisation.
“We have 100 employees located throughout southern NSW continuing to provide clinical services direct to the community and support activities to health professionals.
“I want to assure our communities that these services remain an absolute priority for us,” she said.
The South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network is one of nine networks announced for NSW to support and strengthen general practice and primary health care services for more than 591,000 people across 14 local government areas.
The region stretches from the Victorian border to Sutherland, and west to Goulburn, Yass and the Snowy region.
According to Ms Stonestreet, the boundary alignment with the region’s two Local Health Districts is advantageous.
“This alignment allows us to take advantage of the strong collaborative partnership we have built with the hospital sector in our region.
“Yes, the new region is very large and there’s no denying it will be a challenge to retain the local responsiveness and engagement we’ve worked hard to achieve, but given our 18-year history in southern NSW we are positioned well to have a leadership role in the establishment of the new organisation.”
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