Melbourne's North on the Primary Health Reform Frontline
A Medicare Local - a network of primary health care organisations - will be set up within the electorate as part of the first tranche of 19 Medicare Locals to be established around Australia by the Federal Government.
Harry is pleased his strong representation may have helped the region's successful bid.
Four out of five Australians see a doctor or primary health care provider each year and for the system as a whole to work well, we must deliver these services effectively.
The Northern Melbourne Medicare Local consortium is made up of Divisions of General Practice, community health services, local hospitals, universities, not-for profit health providers and Aboriginal controlled community health services.
A new $3.7 million GP super clinic for South Morang
A newly constructed facility will be built in the rapidly growing City of Whittlesea. The service mix will include a mix of privately and publicly provided primary care services based around a general practice employing 12 GPs.
Existing community health services for early childhood (speech, neuropsychology, parenting), youth counselling, drug and alcohol, chronic disease management, dental and mental health service would be relocated into the clinic.
Preventative health services such as life coaching, health promotion and physical activity programs will also be offered.
The Super Clinic will be run by a consortium led by the Northern Division of General Practice. Other consortium members include the Northern Hospital, Whittlesea Council, and Plenty Valley Community Health.
Insulin Pump Subsidy
The Australian Government now provides a means-tested subsidy of up to $2,500 for people with type 1 diabetes under the age of 18. This targeted subsidy of between $500 and $2,500 based on gross family income will help local parents caring for children with diabetes. This will assist the increasing number of young people with type 1 diabetes.
A number of local families and diabetes sufferers have approached Harry about the rising costs of managing diabetes. The insulin pump subsidy will help ease the burden of diabetes on their lives and will make insulin pumps more affordable for families in Scullin.
A $14 million Academic and Research Precinct at the Northern Hospital, Epping North
The Federal Government will provide $14 million towards the construction of the new $35.5 million Northern Health Teaching, Training and Research Precinct, to be located at the Northern Hospital in Epping.
Harry has advocated strongly for this project from its inception.
Harry led a delegation with other Labor Federal MPs in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, with representatives of Northern Health, La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne to meet with the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, to highlight the importance of this project to the health system in the northern suburbs.
Training and retraining health professionals is critical to meet the growing health needs of our community. This research facility will significantly contribute to addressing future local workforce requirements.
This is a vital project for Melbourne's North. The precinct will provide up to 665 undergraduate, graduate and post graduate student placements in the areas of medicine, nursing and a range of allied health disciplines.