Primary Health Care Networks Announced
Thirty-one PHNs will be established to replace the existing 61 Medicare Locals. They will be funded federally and be accountable to the Department of Health (Australia).
Victoria will have six PHNs to oversee the delivery of primary health services across the state. For metropolitan regions, these will be – North Western Melbourne, Eastern Melbourne and South Eastern Melbourne. Rural Victoria will be serviced by Grampians and Barwon South West, Gippsland and Murray.
The successful applicants for the Victorian bids are all consortia who include some existing Medicare Locals. Some of these consortia also have additional partners.
PHNs will work directly with general practitioners, other primary health care providers, secondary care providers, hospitals and the broader community to ensure improved outcomes for patients. They will be required to deliver improved access to primary care services for patients, as well as better co-ordination with local hospitals.
The federal government had also set PHNs six key priorities for targeted work in mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population health, health workforce, eHealth and aged care.
A key task of the PHNs will be the establishment Community Advisory Committees, which will ensure all patients and local communities can provide feedback to, and have direct input into, the PHN to ensure they deliver the localised health care requirements that were unique to their region.
For further information about Primary Health Networks, please visit www.health.gov.au.
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