Improving primary health care in the north

A new primary health care entity in the North will deliver better health care services by local people for local people.I welcome the announcement that the North Queensland Primary Health Care Collaborative will be responsible for the coordination and delivery of primary health care in North Queensland, replacing the two Medicare Locals operating across the region.What this means is less money for bureaucracy and more money for frontline services.The people of the region will see more services at their local GP, more services at their local pharmacy and more services at their local hospital.It will allow local health professionals to use Federal funding to identify local gaps in programs and respond accordingly.The North Queensland Primary Health Care 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.I have noted the comments of Townsville Mackay Medicare Local management, which are disappointing.They are needlessly upsetting staff with talk of 200 jobs threatened.The simple fact is service provision needs will continue, and those doing frontline work are likely to be given jobs with the new Collective.The North Queensland Primary Health Care Collaborative will commence operation from July 1, 2015 and the region covered includes Mackay, Ayr, Bowen, Dysart and Collinsville, through to Townsville, Cairns and the Torres Strait.