Coordinare the organisation that took over part of the role of Medicare Local has said that all local staff have been re-employed.
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Coordinare was appointed as the new South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network (PHN) in April this year. CEO of Coordinare, Dianne Kitcher, said: “In the Bega Valley, in terms of work transitioning we have been able to take all the staff located in Bega. Local staff were involved in an extensive project and we have committed to this work.”
The project identifies the different health providers and how they relate to other services. It also looks at the services provided by local hospitals as well as working closely with the ACT health service.
The project aims to develop better connected pathways for patients across the PHN and the two health services.
The new PHNs will provide administrative and management services but the actual medical services will be supplied by Grand Pacific Health. Previously Medicare Locals took on both roles.
Ms Kitcher was also able to confirm that Grand Pacific Health had taken on all health service staff attached to the Bega office and that Aboriginal health and mental health services would remain with “absolute continuity”.
“The community can go to the same place. Local providers can use the same referral pathways as before for at least 12 months,” Ms Kitcher said.
However she did say: “In the first year the PHN will be assessing needs and looking at priority issues and which services will be continuing. This isn’t so much about cutting services as about reaching the people who need them. Services might need to be delivered in a different way.”
However she said there would be a focus on GP engagement.
“Local clinical networks including GP clusters and a GP-led clinical council will be key strategies through which Coordinare plans to work with GPs to positively impact on the experiences and outcomes of patients as well as reduce the costs of care across the system. We will be looking to establish these shortly,” said Ms Kitcher.