Labor opened the Macedon Ranges and North West Melbourne Medicare Local in early 2012 to improve healthcare options in Western Melbourne. This and other Medicare Locals are now linking public healthcare users to the most appropriate healthcare provider. They are filling in service gaps between GPs, local health services and patients with targeted local healthcare programs, such as after-hours GP clinics and health programs to assist new migrants, including in the Melton and Brimbank areas. On 28 August 2013, Tony Abbott said in a debate with former PM Kevin Rudd, “We are not shutting any Medicare Locals”. Tony Abbott has broken a lot of promises since last September, but this one has the potential to severely affect the healthcare options of everyday Australians. There is still time to save Medicare Locals before the May Budget. Write to the Minister for Health at: [email protected] to say that you support Medicare Local.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 00:32:41 +0000