Health network spread too far

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TROUBLE AHEAD? FNQ Medicare Local CEO Dr Michael Wilson said the future was unclear for t

TROUBLE AHEAD? FNQ Medicare Local CEO Dr Michael Wilson said the future was unclear for the organisation and its 32 staff after losing a bid to operate the North Queensland branch of the Primary Health Network. The network will be run by the Mackay Hospital and Health Service. PICTURE: BRENDAN FRANCIS

A DOCTOR says the North’s new Primary Health Network, which stretches from Mackay to Torres Strait, may be too large to provide effective healthcare across the region.            

FNQ Medicare Local lost its bid to operate the North Queensland branch of the Primary Health Network, which will be run by the Mackay Hospital and Health Service.

The initiative, which will start July 1, will replace the 61 regions under Labor’s Medicare Local System.

 

 

The new PHN will work directly with GPs, primary healthcare providers, secondary care providers, hospitals and the broader community.

The North Queensland primary healthcare collaborative will work to improve the co-ordination and delivery of primary healthcare.

The collaborative is made up of FNQDocs, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

FNQ Medicare Local CEO Dr Michael Wilson said the future was unclear for the organisation and its 32 staff.

“We have not heard anything from Mackay HHS in terms of transition,’’ he said.

“We still believe we are in a position to provide services on behalf of the PHN … so there’s a smooth transition.”

CONNECTED: The new Primary Health Network will work directly with GPs, primary healthcare

CONNECTED: The new Primary Health Network will work directly with GPs, primary healthcare providers, secondary care providers, hospitals and the broader community. PICTURE: THINKSTOCK Source: ThinkStock

 

Dr Wilson said the footprint for the PHN was way too large to be locally responsive.

“Far North Queensland’s current footprint goes from Tully up to Saibai – about 4km off the PNG coast, out to Croydon in the Gulf,’’ he said.

“Add in Townsville, Mackay, Richmond, Dysart … it’s going to be very difficult for whoever to address the challenging needs in this area.”

Trent Twomey, chairman of the PHN collaborative, said the organisation’s role was to plan and co-ordinate primary care services.

“It is our job to understand the healthcare needs of communities across north Queensland through analysis, planning, working closely with service providers and listening to the community,” he said.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Clare Douglas said the new arrangement was good news for patients.

“There is a real opportunity for us to improve the integration between primary and secondary health services across north Queensland, so patients receive seamless healthcare,” Ms Douglas said.