A leader in primary and community health services and academic general practice has been appointed as the new medical director for WellSouth primary health network.

Dr Carol Atmore is taking on the clinical leadership role at a point of significant change in the health sector, calling it “a phenomenal time to be involved, to help make a contribution to the future design of the health system in Aotearoa”.

WellSouth is the Primary Health Network for the Southern region, responsible for the delivery of primary health care and supporting general practice teams in Otago and Southland.

Carol says it’s the opportunity to help shape how the government’s planned Health and Disability System Reforms are developed and implemented that’s prompted her move from academia back to work in the health care sector.  

“I’m very excited about the potential for change. I think WellSouth will have an important role to play and I want to be a part of it,” she said.

“This is the best opportunity in the last 20 years to improve the health system in New Zealand. This includes better coordination of health services across the system, a strong role for primary health care, autonomy for Māori and improved equity of outcomes.”

Carol is joining WellSouth from the Department of General Practice and Rural Health at the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, where she has been a senior lecturer and Head of Department since August 2019.

Carol said the plans for health system change are transformational: “This is the best opportunity in the last 20 years to improve the health system in New Zealand. This includes better coordination of health services across the system, a strong role for primary health care, autonomy for Māori and improved equity of outcomes.”

Of particular interest to her is the creation of locality networks that will ensure that primary and community care is better designed and coordinated to meet local needs and priorities. These are likely to be created by local health providers working together with local governments, iwi, and other key stakeholders.

Dr Stephen Graham stepped down as medical director earlier this year to return to general practice and continues to work with WellSouth as a clinical advisor.

Carol will take up her new role beginning in July.

PHOTO: Supplied