Nine jobs to go in Medicare closure

The death knell has sounded for 61 Medicare Local offices across Australia, including one in Broome from which nine people will be made redundant.

The regional organisations planned and co-ordinated improvements in primary health care for a designated population.

The Broome office in Dampier Terrace covered the Kimberley and Pilbara.

The Medicare Locals will be replaced by Primary Health Networks, responsible for planning and commissioning.

The WA Primary Health Alliance has been selected by the Federal Government to deliver three Primary Health Networks in WA - Perth North, Perth South and Country WA.

It will begin operating on July 1, 2015.

WAPHA said it would ensure primary health care improved in Perth and communities within the Kimberley-Pilbara.

But a consortium of WA health agencies that lost their bid to operate the Country WA Primary Health Network disagree, saying it will impact on people and services.

The North West Health Alliance was one of the unsuccessful tender partners.

NWHA chairman Henry Councillor said it was "essential" to have "a country organisation based in the country, working for country".

"The unique circumstances that are faced by country practitioners require collaborations that are formed over many years," he said.

"This and the close understandings of the community interest and need will be lost."

Mr Councillor said the move would disenfranchise country people while decreasing responsiveness to raise issues and ultimately access to services.

Immediate past president of the Australian Medical Association (WA) and WAPHA chairman Dr Richard Choong believes the move to PHNs was "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference to primary health care in the Kimberley- Pilbara".

"WAPHA is not interested in preserving the status quo," he said.

"We know that effective commissioning will deliver better services and lead to improved health outcomes for the Kimberley-Pilbara community."

Dr Choong said GP and broader clinical engagement in the region would be a priority.

"As a GP, I can see the clear alignment with WAPHA's commitment to support general practice to achieve the highest standards in the delivery of care to the individual patient and the community at large," he said.

"We will continue to engage with and listen to the Kimberley-Pilbara community so that we commission services that deliver the outcomes the communities want."