THE Chair of the North Coast Medicare Local (NCML) Board, Dr Tony Lembke, says NCML will work tirelessly to improve access to health care, make it easier for health professionals to provide quality care; and most importantly, to keep people healthy and out of hospital.
Dr Lembke made the statement at a recent full day meeting of the NCML Board. The nine board members are all local health professionals and managers representing their communities. They came together to discuss NCML’s vision and strategic plan, which they enthusiastically endorsed.
NCML’s vision is ‘Better Health for North Coast Communities’. Although just 12 months old, NCML is making a difference by filling gaps in health care services and improving the patient’s journey through all the services that exist outside of hospital.
North Coast Medicare Local staff and contractors deliver a range of important health programs and services in more than 25 towns, from the Queensland border down to Port Macquarie.
NCML has taken over funding and management of GP after hours services on the North Coast. These were previously run from Canberra. Having local people making decisions about how best to provide these services, means solutions for after hours services for rural North Coast townships which previously had none, will be provided to suit specific needs.
NCML’s board members will use their knowledge of the region to ensure that access to after hours services is fair and equitable.
NCML is educating health professionals about how to work with patients to set up their own personal electronic health records. This will mean that patients are empowered to take control of their own health records which can then be conveniently accessed centrally by health professionals and hospital staff.
