THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
MEDIA RELEASE
29 October 2010
Next Steps Taken to Establish Medicare Locals
The Gillard Government is getting on with the job of reforming our health and
hospital system and today took the important next step in establishing a network of
primary health care organisations – Medicare Locals – by releasing a discussion
paper on their planned roles, functions and governance.
The discussion paper outlines what activities Medicare Locals will undertake, how
they will be structured, and how they will engage with patients and health providers.
The paper outlines five key objectives for Medicare Locals:
Identification of the health needs of local areas and development of locally
focused and responsive services including a stronger focus on prevention and
early intervention;
Improving the patient journey through developing integrated and coordinated
services;
Providing support to clinicians and service providers to improve patient care,
particularly the better prevention and management of chronic disease;
Facilitating the implementation and successful performance of primary healthcare
initiatives and programs; and
Being efficient and accountable with strong governance and effective
management.
The paper expects that Medicare Locals will be independent legal entities with formal
linkages to Local Hospital Networks and will build upon the existing role of Divisions
of general practice.
Medicare Locals will have strong links to local communities, health professionals –
including GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals – and service
providers enabling them to respond more effectively to the needs of local
communities.
They will provide more co-ordinated care, improve access to services and drive
integration between GPs, hospitals, allied health, mental health and aged care.
Speaking at the formal opening of Australia’s seventh GP Super Clinic in Belmont,
Geelong, Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said that one of the first
important tasks of Medicare Locals will be to help coordinate 24 hour GP after hours
access, which will take pressure off our hospitals.
GP Super Clinics are a key element of the Australian Government’s strategy to build
a stronger primary health care system, having already provided over 250,000
services across Australia.
26 GP Super Clinics are currently either operational, offering early services or under
construction.
The first Medicare Locals are expected to commence operations in mid-2011 with
the remainder commencing in mid-2012.
The Government’s discussion paper and information on how to respond to the
received by 12 November 2010.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220
NEWS 
