Senator Richard Colbeck visited Cygnet Family Practice last week to discuss how potential changes to Medicare funding could help people who live in rural Australia to access health services.
In discussion with co-owner Kerrie Duggan and Practice Manager Beth Eslick, Senator Colbeck heard how the innovative Urgent and After-Hours Service, led by Nurse Practitioners and Paramedics in Cygnet, had added an additional 100 appointments each week, for those who needed urgent care over the past 3 years. The service includes increasing access to health care for vulnerable people and preventing misuse of the ambulance service and the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department.
Kerrie supported the ‘scope of practice’ review recommendations for block and blended funding models, which increase access to health care in rural areas where limited or no GP service is available.