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GCPHN is well established in the local primary health sector and has several ongoing activities designed to enhance the health care system at a local level – with a particular focus on disadvantaged patients.
We work with others including Gold Coast Health to identify health care “gaps” through our comprehensive needs analysis. Through funding provided by the Commonwealth Government, we commission clinical services for patients identified as needing support outside the traditional Medicare or State health systems already in place. Much of this work is not seen in general practice – many of the patients fall through the gaps in systems and are considered high risk because of their particular circumstances.
GCPHN works with other organisations to improve the “one health care system” linking the patchwork of service providers to maximise efficiency and function. Perhaps the most significant work is again with Gold Coast Health, and there are a number of collaborative systems now in place to provide a better patient experience through the clinical pathways developed for sharing responsibility for managing patients efficiently. We also work closely with General Practice Gold Coast to enhance the work of our local GP work force.
More recently, PHN’s have been tasked to assist in the local primary care responses to community emergencies – fires, floods and COVID-19 the most obvious examples. Through regular work with several other organisations we are achieving significant enhancements and efficiencies towards management of emergency situations that have challenged all in recent times.
Overlying these activities is a robust structure being the staff of GCPHN. To ensure local external input there are two committees reporting to the board – the Clinical Council and the Community Advisory Council. They are very active in giving feedback on the implementation of programs at a local level, and we are grateful of their dedicated input to our work.
Direct support of local primary health care providers continues with the practice support team assisting general practices in their work. Primary Sense is now available to most general practices, both as a data extraction tool and also as a decision assistant at patient level. This innovative program is now rolling out across most of Australia.
While much of the work of GCPHN is not visible to local primary health care providers and the range of activities is significant in our community. I am proud to be working with our team to improve our local health care system.
Finally, hosted by Dr Chris Briggs, Gold Coast Child Health Network is a newly formed group for clinicians working in primary care with an interest in paediatric care. GPs (including registrars), practice nurses, child health nurses and all allied health professionals are welcome to attend, with the first sessions being held on Thursday 11 August, 6-8pm. Dr Carla Morley, local paediatrician at Gold Coast University Hospital and Leading Steps Paediatrics, will join the group to discuss “Recurrent illness in children, how many is too many?” and I strongly encourage you to attend. Meetings are eligible for RACGP self-recorded CPD points.
Roger Halliwell
Chair, GCPHN
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