To receive important alerts and updates from Gold Coast Primary Health Network, please submit the form below.
To receive important alerts and updates from Gold Coast Primary Health Network, please submit the form below.
To receive important alerts and updates from Gold Coast Primary Health Network, please submit the form below. Please note: the GP Bulletin publication is for local GPs only.
The latest information and resources has been collated to assist GPs and their patients in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you have additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at: communications@gcphn.com.au
7th April – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update
6th April – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update
2nd April – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 1st April – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 31st March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 30th March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 27th March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 26th March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 24th March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update 23rd March – GCPHN Health Professionals COVID-19 Update |
This pathway has been endorsed by State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) to guide primary care management of COVID-19 in the state. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Queensland HealthPathways Community, Streamliners NZ and SHECC for this excellent resource.
On 29 March 2020, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, announced: Whole of population telehealth for patients, general practice, primary care and other medical services to support the response to COVID-19.
As part of the continued response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Health has provided a limited supply of surgical masks for general practices and pharmacies. This guidance document is provided to ensure consistent and transparent management of the limited supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
To request masks, please email your practice details, staff numbers and type of masks required, to:
covid-19@gcphn.com.au
GP Collection: If GPs are willing and able to collect specimens and require N95/P2 masks, please contact Gold Coast Primary Health Network at covid-19@gcphn.com.au
Please ensure any suspected patient is provided with a surgical mask and wears it at all times while accessing testing and other care services.
Pathology collection centres
The following links are for Sullivan Nicolaides and QML including approved collection centre lists and specimen collection information for health practitioners.
During events such as the current coronavirus situation, additional pressure may be placed on GPs and practice staff as frontline workers through increased patient attendance to the practice, responding to fear and anxiety amidst the community and staying up to date as the situation evolves.
It is important during such times that GPs and practice staff take time to care for themselves and take the opportunity to debrief with colleagues.
If you require additional support, services are available, specifically developed for doctors.
| RACGP: The GP Support Program
This is a free and confidential psychological support service available to all members. |
1300 361 008 (24 hours/7 days) |
| Queensland Doctors Health Program and Doctors Health Advisory Service
The QDHP provides independent, confidential, colleague-to-colleague support service to assist doctors and medical students |
QDHP website |
| AMA Anonymous Peer Support Line (Also available to non-members) | 1300 853 338 |
| General Practice Gold Coast
General Practice Gold Coast are also here to support you. Please join the closed facebook group ‘GPGC Members’ for a GP community support. (note you will be asked for information to identify you as a Gold Coast Region GP). |
General Practice Gold Coast Facebook Group |
| DRS4DRS
DRS4DRS is an independent program providing confidential support and resources to doctors and medical students across Australia, by doctors. Confidential phone advice is available 24/7 for any doctor or medical student in Australia via each state/territory helpline and referral service. |
07 3833 4352 |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 |
Do you have your own GP? If you haven’t got one already, get one now, they are now potentially easier to access with the universal telehealth.
For clinical questions about patients, contact the Gold Coast Public Health Unit on 07) 5667 3200
Members of the public should contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice.
Australian Government Department of Health
Queensland Health has answers to a number of frequently asked questions from clinicians including what PPE do I need when caring for a patient with suspected COVID-19, what treatment options do we have and what do we do if our staff are exposed?
Current Grant OpportunityThe COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program will reimburse eligible aged care providers for eligible expenditure incurred on managing direct impacts of COVID-19. The Program will run over two years from 2019-20 to 2020-21. The Program will assist Residential Aged Care, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program and Home Care Package providers that are subject to direct COVID-19 impacts, to deliver continuity of safe quality care for consumers. Eligible applicants can apply for funding for each impacted service for the periods between the date on which the resident, staff member or client is tested for COVID-19 and the date on which direct COVID-19 impacts are resolved (i.e. no infected or isolated residents, staff members or clients). The application form will be made available shortly on the here. |
Three new e-learning modules liveThree new eLearning modules developed specifically for Aged Care workers are now online. These modules are:
On completion of these modules, participants will be able to:
These modules can be accessed here. More modules will be released over the coming days. If you would like to access the Aged Care training, users will need to register their workplaces as ‘Aged Care’. If you have already registered for online training but not with ‘Aged Care’ as your workplace, email support@covid-19training.gov.au for a priority response. |
Changes to Aged Care AssessmentsIn the interests of supporting the health and safety of assessors and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, telephone and telehealth aged care assessments will be adopted as the default approach for community assessments by ACATs and RAS until further notice. Face to face assessments are still permitted where necessary to support the needs of the client. This will be reviewed as the situation evolves. All assessment organisations are also being asked to increase welfare checks with clients during this period. |
Aged care providers that require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must now email agedcarecovidppe@health.gov.au for all requests.
All requests will be triaged by the Department of Health with priority given to facilities, programs and workers where there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Requests can be made by aged care services and any workers providing support to people receiving aged care support living in the community.
The following information must be provided in your email request:
If your facility, program or service is experiencing an outbreak of influenza, the above process applies.
Find out more
Four modules are available for completion as part of the Department of Health’s new eLearning program for Aged Care workers. Modules are:
Click here to register and access the training modules.
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