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Home > Ministers > The Hon Nicola Roxon MP - Minister for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > 1 July Brings Better Health Care for Australian Families

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PDF printable version of 1 July Brings Better Health Care for Australian Families (PDF 34 KB)

1 July 2011

1 July 2011 marks a significant milestone in our national health reform journey, with many new measures that matter to Australian families beginning or coming into full operation, Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon explained.

“The Gillard Government wants to deliver better health services, closer to home, which is why we have committed to more than $66 billion in new health investments since 2007,” Minister Roxon said.

“Many significant new national health reform initiatives begin in 2011-12.

“Programs like telehealth and our new after hours GP helpline will make a real difference in the lives of patients and show how the Gillard Government is delivering health reforms that matter for Australian families.

“Major structural reforms to our health system such as the funding of Medicare Locals and establishment of a permanent Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care also start today.

“These reforms show how our Government is focused on the long-term issues that will ensure our health system can continue to deliver for our kids and our grandkids.

“Of course, it was Tony Abbott’s position going into the election to rip apart national health reform including our after hours GP helpline and historic work to make e-health records a reality for all Australians.”

Major measures kicking off in 2011-12 include:

• The beginning of a new after hours GP helpline, which will mean that after-hours advice from a GP will only be a phone call away.
• The beginning of Telehealth—Medicare rebates for online consultations for people in remote, regional and outer metropolitan areas of Australia. Telehealth will allow patients to have video consultations with medical specialists, removing the time and expense involved in travelling to major cities.
• The Government will start funding the first 19 Medicare Locals which will have the important role of working with GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, Indigenous health organisations, Local Hospital Networks and other stakeholders to identify and respond to gaps in local health services – and help patients and professionals navigate our complex system more easily.
• The first group of Local Hospital Networks (LHNs)—NSW has already created 18 LHNs and all boundaries for LHNs in other states and territories have been agreed, with the exception of Victoria and WA. All remaining LHNs are expected to commence operations by 1 July 2012.
• The establishment of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care as a permanent and independent body. The commission will lead and coordinate improvements in safety and quality in health care in Australia.
• The development of personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHR) and testing of e-health infrastructure and standards in real world settings will continue in 12 sites across the country.
• The continuing introduction of GP Super Clinics to provide GPs, nurses, visiting medical specialists, allied health professionals and other health care providers and services in one convenient location.

The Gillard Government will also continue to deliver hospitals the resources they need for more beds and better care through national health reform. Upgrades to emergency departments and elective surgery facilities around the country continue to progress in addition to the 1300 new sub-acute beds that are being funded by the Commonwealth. As these new facilities and beds open, more and more Australian patients around the country will able to access the care they need, when they need it.

Work to introduce activity-based funding from July 2012 and report more information on hospital and Medicare Local performance will also continue to progress this financial year, together with the establishment of the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority and the National Health Performance Authority.

Cancer

The Gillard Government is investing more than $2.2 billion to build a world-class cancer care system that delivers medicines, screening and research, as well as bricks and mortar and skilled professionals.

Our commitment to improving treatment options for regional Australians with cancer will also continue to pay dividends in 2011-12 as 22 Regional Cancer Centre projects take shape around the country.

Cancer-fighting measures to apply from 1 July include:

• The continuation of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program—early detection by screening remains the best way to fight bowel cancer and invitations to Australians turning 50, 55 or 65 from 1 January 2011, to take a screening test, will begin in early July 2011.
• Funding for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to develop resources for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, their families and carers, and for the establishment of up to 90 self-sustaining peer support groups for men with prostate cancer, particularly those in rural and regional Australia.
• Funding to enable Cancer Australia to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information for women diagnosed with gynaecological cancers, promote evidence-based clinical best practice to health professionals caring for women with gynaecological cancers, and fund research.

Prevention

The Gillard Government knows that prevention works. That’s why we are investing a record $872 million in preventative health programs to help keep Australians well and out of hospital.

From 1 July, funding will be available through the Healthy Workers program to support healthy living programs in workplaces, particularly to reduce rates of overweight and obesity, increase levels of physical activity and the intake of fruit and vegetables, stop smoking and reduce harmful levels of alcohol consumption.

Funding is also being provided through the Healthy Children program to deliver programs for children aged up to 16 years to increase levels of physical activity and improve the intake of fruit and vegetables in settings such as child care centres, pre-schools and schools.


More information about national health reform and changes from 1 July 2011 can be found at www.yourhealth.gov.au.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220