HAWKESBURY health and business professional, Lizz Reay, has been appointed the CEO of the newly established Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN).
NBMPHN was established last month to replace Nepean-Blue Mountains Medicare Local (NBMML).
NBMPHN Board Chair, Dr Andrew Knight said they were delighted to appoint Ms Reay to this pivotal role.
“Her appointment is the culmination of an extensive and rigorous search for the right person,” Dr Knight said.
She understands the needs of the region and has a strong vision for the PHN in the new era of primary health reform.”
Dr Knight said Ms Reay had “runs on the board” with achieving real improvements in primary care in the region. He said she successfully led NBMML through the tender process and commenced the task of establishing the organisational framework and systems to transition seamlessly to the PHN.
Ms Reay said her vision for the PHN under her leadership was to create a strong primary care system in the region that helps people stay well and out of hospital.
Primary health care is provided outside the hospital and includes GPs, nurses and allied health providers.
"Our mission is to empower general practice and other health care professionals to achieve high quality, accessible and integrated care for our community,” Ms Reay said.
“It is in the community that the majority of health care occurs.
“We know that people don’t want to go to hospital or the emergency department if they don’t have to.
“We also know that in countries with strong primary health care systems people have better health outcomes.” Ms Reay was the Deputy CEO from the time NBMML was established in 2012 and has been the NBMML Acting CEO since January.
Prior to that she was the Deputy CEO of the Nepean Division of General Practice.
Lizz Reay is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a bachelor of applied science, a masters of nutrition and dietetics and advanced diploma of business management.
She has a background in clinical and public health nutrition in Australia and the UK.
She is a frequent speaker at health forums and was instrumental in the establishment of the NBMML organisation and the collaborative Partners in Recovery initiative for the Nepean Blue Mountains region.
