Medicare Locals need leadership of local family doctors
AMA Family Doctor Week 18-24 July 2011
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that Medicare Locals need strong involvement and leadership from local family doctors if they are going to deliver on the Government’s promise to improve the delivery of quality primary health care to communities.
Dr Hambleton said that Medicare Locals need strong GP leadership on their boards.
“The AMA’s view is that Medicare Locals can only work if they are implemented correctly with the right intentions – and that means acknowledging the key role of family doctors,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The first 19 Medicare Locals are now in their early stages of development and the AMA will be seeking input into how they will evolve.
“We oppose Medicare Locals in their current form because there has not been enough consultation with the medical profession over their structures and the types of services they will provide.
“Without strong GP input into the design of services, patient care could be fragmented and services could be poorly targeted.
“This would disenfranchise the family doctor workforce and seriously disadvantage patients.
“People want GPs to be their first point of contact in primary care today and they will expect GPs to play the same role in Medicare Locals.
“If family doctors form the foundation of Medicare Locals, the needs of the community will be much better met and the Government’s health reforms will have a greater chance of achieving their objectives,” Dr Hambleton said.
The AMA has sought clarification from the Minister for Health and Ageing about the role of GPs in the leadership of the first 19 Medicare Locals.
The AMA has also written to the Chairs of the 19 Medicare Locals setting out the AMA’s preferred models of governance and service delivery.
18 July 2011
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