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On 30th September 2011 the Commonwealth Government released draft legislation for eHealth (known as the Exposure Draft PCEHR Bill 2011)

The PCEHR Draft Bill supports ‘personal control’ by consumers, enabling individuals to access their own health information and to choose how access by healthcare providers is managed by the system.

The legislative proposals are structured under five headings:

• Participation: The participants are identified to include individuals, healthcare provider organisations, information service providers, the PCEHR system operator, repository providers, trusted data sources and portal providers.
• Access: The PCEHR system extends to the capacity of individuals to have access to their own health information and choices about access by healthcare providers.
• Privacy: Health information within the PCEHR system will be protected through a combination of legislation, governance, and security and technology measures.
• Security: Security of information held within the PCEHR system will include audit trails, proactive monitoring of access, education and training of users, and requirements that the system operator and healthcare provider organisations only access the PCEHR when authorised.
• Governance: The governance model recommended is referred to as a guided market model. In addition to proposed legislation for the PCEHR system and application of a range of existing regulatory frameworks this model relies on competition and use of funding and compliance mechanisms to encourage participation.

The Commonwealth Government has invited comment on the draft legislation. The closing date for comments and submissions is 10:00 am Australian Eastern Standard Time, Friday 28 October 2011. Further information is available at www.yourhealth.gov.au

On 30th September 2011 the Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local was established as a separate not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee with a primary focus on health service planning and commissioning of services for the resident population within the Medicare Local boundary; nominally the CBD of Adelaide, the Western and Eastern suburbs and the Adelaide Hills to Callington.

The Inaugural Board of nine members of the Medicare Local includes Prof Justin Beilby as Chair, three General Practitioners nominated by each of the three Divisions of General Practice; GP partners Adelaide, Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice and Adelaide Western GP Network. Government policy precluded a majority of any one health profession being appointed as Directors of the Board of the Medicare Local.

Office accommodation for the Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local Limited has been leased at ground level, 120 Hutt Street, Adelaide.

The organisation is currently in its very early formative stage and is relying upon executive level support from the Chief Executive Officers from the three Divisions of General Practice that nominated General Practitioners to the Board of the Medicare Local

On 1st July 2011, the Australian Government launched the after hours telephone-based GP medical advice and diagnostic service through healthdirect Australia. The after hours GP helpline is a service for people who require after hours medical advice, who cannot access their usual GP and are not sure what they should do to speak to a GP over the telephone when necessary.

To access the new helpline, patients can call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.

The helpline will operate from 6:00pm to 8:00am monday to Friday, 6:00pm Friday to 8:00am Saturday, from 12noon Saturday to 8:00am Monday and 24 hours on national and State public holidays.

The new service will be an add-on to the existing 24-hour nurse telephone triage and advice service currently operating. If they choose to, patients will still be able to access existing after hours services in the same way they do now.

The helpline is intended for people who require urgent but not acute medical assistance and are unsure of the health treatment they require. Depending on their condition, the caller may be provided with self-care advice by the telephone-based nurse or GP, or may be referred to the most appropriate health services in their local area.

The after hours GP helpline is not intended for patients with life-threatening conditions. Patients with such conditions should dial ‘000’ and/or attend an emergency department without delay. If the caller requires immediate emergency attention, the call will be transferred to ‘000’ with the nurse or GP staying on the line. The new service is not intended for patients with non-urgent conditions that can effectively be treated by the patient’s usual GP during normal working hours.

The new after hours GP helpline will not replace face-to-face after hours care for those who need it. It provides an additional option for patients.

Using the new helpline

When a person calls the new service, their call will be answered by a registered nurse who will triage the caller. If necessary, the nurse will transfer the person to a GP on the telephone. The GP will talk with the person, assess their condition, make a diagnosis and provide medical advice.

Additional information about the helpline is available at www.yourhealth.gov.au/gphelpline