The future direction of several health programs in the South Burnett should become clearer following the announcement of the successful tenderers for the Primary Health Network which will replace the axed Darling Downs South West Queensland Medicare Local Region.
The Federal Government announced in its May Budget last year that the 61 Medicare Locals across Australia would be scrapped and replaced with Primary Health Networks from July, 2015.
Then in October, the government announced that the local boundaries for the PHNs would split the current DDSWQ region into two: Darling Downs and Western Moreton, and Western Queensland.
On Saturday, Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said the the tender for the Darling Downs West Moreton PHN had been awarded to the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network (Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service and GP Connections).
The tender for the Western Queensland PHN has been awarded to the North West Hospital and Health Service.
“To ensure a smooth transition and continuation of services, the Darling Downs South West Queensland Medicare Local will be working cooperatively with the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, GP Connections and the North West Hospital and Health Service towards the establishment of the new PHNs on July 1,” a DDSWQ Medicare Local spokesman said.
The new PHNs are being established following the release of the Horvath Report commissioned by the Federal Government.
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