THE newly-formed Country Health Taskforce is set to embark on a consultation process and review of GP Plus Emergency Hospitals and their country communities over the next six months, headed up by former Eyre Peninsula farmer Peter Blacker.
Mr Blacker is chairman of the Regional Communities Consultative Council and the Community Engagement Board and has been strongly involved in regional development issues across South Australia.
He will be joined in the taskforce by people from key organisations representing doctors, nurses, state and local government.
Health Minister John Hill says the taskforce's main role will be to advise the government on the scope of services to be provided at the smaller hospitals, in particular the hospitals where changes are most likely to occur over the next 10 years.