Panel discusses creating an accessible, affordable and available healthcare system
04 Sep 2024
Speakers had the opportunity to share insights on the health, infrastructure and service challenges of our region, with 250 attendees.
Dr McDonald was part of a panel with representatives from two other Greater Western Sydney PHNs which examined healthcare workforce challenges impacting the industry and practical strategies to make a difference.
The panel also discussed the importance of integrated care, recent MyMedicare reforms and the significance of the National Digital Health Blueprint.
Dr McDonald spoke about GP shortages and general practice closures in our region; how the ability to share clinical information between primary and acute care in real time with technologies like iRAD would be a ‘game changer’ for healthcare; the need for action to overcome the inverse care law of inequitable supply to those most in need; and called for the inclusion of a single employment model pilot for GP registrars in outer metro Sydney.
Caption: Dr Keith McDonald (second from left above) with fellow panellists (left to right) Professor Annemarie Hennessy, Kate Tye (from Nepean Blue Mountains PHN) and Andrew Newton (from WentWest) at the forum.