MEDICARE LOCALS

120 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (17 July 2012). With respect to 2012-13 Budget Paper 4, vol. 3, pp. 41, 46, 59—

How has the effectiveness of the newly formed Medicare Locals been assessed in terms of reducing dependence on acute hospital settings and what have been the results?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts): I am advised:

Under the Commonwealth Government's National Health Reform Agenda, a network of independent primary health care organisations, called Medicare Locals (MLs), are being established across the nation.

Over the last 12 months, five MLs have been formed in South Australia. These are: Central Adelaide and Hills; Country North SA; Northern Adelaide; Southern Adelaide-Fleurieu Kangaroo Island; and Country South.

Each ML is required to undertake a planning strategy in order to understand the health needs of their local population, and to use this information to inform their future planning and decision-making.

SA Health has been involved in early dialogue with the MLs and will continue to develop and maintain close working relationships with them into the future.

It is expected that a key role for the MLs will be to drive more efficient use of our health resources through encouraging the delivery of primary care, ambulatory and acute care in the settings that are most able to safely and effectively provide them.

It is too early to assess any results of this Commonwealth initiative.