NEW England Medicare Local closed its doors yesterday to make way for a new Primary Health Network, which will start operations today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The PHN will cover the Hunter, New England and Central Coast regions.
New CEO Richard Nankervis said the “large and diverse region” would pose a significant challenge, but “a great opportunity as well”.
The rapid change had left staff in limbo, and Mr Nankervis said recruitment was ongoing and the number of how many staff would go was unclear even as the doors of the new organisation swung open.
Outgoing CEO of NEML Graeme Kershaw said he was proud to be part of an organisation that had improved the health of the community.
“It is a sad day for New England Medicare Local. We have done terrific things in the past four years,” Mr Kershaw said.
“There are a lot of health services that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.”
He said key achievements of the service were securing visiting medical specialists, mental health services for people suffering anxiety and depression, significant work with members of the Aboriginal community who suffer very serious chronic disease, as well as allied health and primary health nurses who got out in the community to connect local people to healthcare.
Federal health minister Sussan Ley told doctors in Tamworth on Monday she was “confident” of a smooth transition.
She said the PHNs would continue to provide “excellent” healthcare but they would be “somewhat invisible behind the scenes”.
“It is about seeing improvements in health outcomes for patients ... and that’s how I will measure the success of what is a very substantial investment by taxpayers through the government,” Ms Ley said.
Mr Nankervis said in the crucial first few months, staff would be finalised and GP-led clinical councils would be set up.
“We have taken a range of steps to ensure service continuity – that is a key priority,” Mr Nankervis said.
“I have a vision of working with local clinicians and local communities to drive significant improvements in our healthcare and improve health outcomes across the region.
“No doubt the timeframes have been very short for us, but we think we can make a really good start.”
NEML services will be continued under new organisation Healthwise, established to plug the gap during the transition to a PHN.