New regional medical board includes Coffs Harbour GP
NORTH Coast Medicare Local (NCML) has formally announced its new Board which includes a GP from Coffs Harbour.
NCML opened its doors in April 2012 and was the result of four Divisions of General Practice (Tweed, Northern Rivers, Coffs and Port Macquarie) coming together to improve the integration of local health services and make it easier for people to access the services they need.
Chief executive officer Vahid Saberi said NCML was fortunate to have such a breadth of talent and skills on the new board which is chaired by Dr Tony Lembke from Alstonville.
The other members are Professor Lesley Barclay who is also the chair of the National Rural Health Alliance Board; Dr Dianne Blanckensee from Tweed Heads; Dr Tim Francis, a GP anesthetist from Coffs Harbour; Dr David Gregory from Port Macquarie; Ms Sheila Keane, a physiotherapist from Casino; Mr Malcolm Marshall, an accountant at SCU; Mr Scott Monaghan, the executive manager of the Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation in Grafton and Mr Philip Silver, an accountant and former mayor of Ballina.
Mr Saberi said he was pleased that Dr Tony Lembke who was the chair of the North Coast Medicare Local (NCML) Transition Board and of the Northern Rivers General Practice Network had retained the position of Chair.
"Tony brings vision, enthusiasm and an important understanding of the history behind recent health reforms to his role," Mr Saberi said.
Dr Lembke has also been recently recognised as national GP of the Year for his outstanding commitment to general practice and his tremendous work in improving the primary health care system (out of hospital care) through his involvement in many high profile roles working to make the system better.
Mr Saberi said the new board would play an important role in shaping the direction of NCML - improving access to primary health care and ensuring that everyone in the community gets the right health care at the right time and in the right place.
