Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During the break, I had the privilege of seeing the extraordinary work of the Goldfields-Midwest Medicare Local. The GMML has been improving primary health care throughout the region with its community-driven, quality healthcare service since 2012. The GMML has been able to identify gaps in primary healthcare services in the region and has successfully redirected professionals into areas of need.

Towns struggling to attract health professionals now have visiting services. Esperance now has a paediatrician endocrinologist to treat children with type 1 diabetes; podiatry services are now being delivered to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands; physiotherapy services are being delivered in Leonora, Laverton and Exmouth; and a Hep C nurse is working alongside the physician in Geraldton—to name a few. Another significant change has been the introduction of a shared electronic record system, which has provided improved communication channels between hospitals and GPs. The community is devastated to know that all this great work will be dismantled by June 2015. Already, staff are leaving and services are being diminished. Medicare Locals have been a brilliant innovation for the delivery of primary health care in regional and remote communities but will be another victim of the Abbott government's destructive agenda. (Time expired)