Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Griff for his question and for some notice of it. He would be aware that it was this government that established the 31 PHNs in 2015. This was to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes. It was also done to improve coordination of care to ensure patients received the right care in the right place at the right time. PHNs work directly with general practitioners, other primary health care providers, secondary care providers and hospitals to facilitate improved outcomes.

The government has agreed to six key priorities for targeted work by PHNs. These are mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population health, health workforce, eHealth and aged care. I am advised that the Australian Primary Care Collaborative's program is used voluntarily by individual practices. The collaborative's program developed a number of quality indicators which have been adapted into continuous improvement programs for general practice, which continue to be run by the PHNs in most regions. The concept of a continuous improvement system developed out of the collaborative's is currently being adapted in discussions with general practice.