Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride visited the North Coast last week and met with Healthy North Coast Board Chairman Dr Adrian Gilliland; Chief Executive Monika Wheeler; and Director of Primary Care Impact and Partnerships Luke Elias.
While in the region, Minister McBride visited the Lismore GP Super Clinic and Coffs Harbour’s CHC Medical Centre, where she spoke about the recent Federal Budget, including a $5.7 billion commitment over five years to strengthen Medicare and the Australian Government’s investment in primary health reform to help ease the strain on hospital emergency departments and improve access to primary care.
Coffs Harbour and Lismore are among 14 NSW locations identified for the establishment of urgent care clinics. Healthy North Coast is currently assessing expressions of interest from practices interested in operating the clinics, with plans for them to be operational by the end of the year.
Image above: Pictured L-R are CHC directors Sam Ledger and Mena Abdel Messih, Healthy North Coast Board Chairman Dr Adrian Gilliland, Federal Assistant Minister Emma McBride, Healthy North Coast Chief Executive Monika Wheeler, and Healthy North Coast Director Primary Care Impact and Partnerships Luke Elias.