After Hours GP Clinic

 

Hawkesbury After Hours GP Clinic

 

History and Overview

The Hawkesbury After Hours GP Service is a collaboration between the Hawkesbury-Hills Division of General Practice Ltd and Hawkesbury District Health Service Ltd.  It is the result of a joint funding application submitted for an After Hours Primary Medical Care Development Grant.  The grant was approved and the Service commenced operation on 20 May 2003.

The After Hours GP Service is located within the Community Health Care Centre and is available to 'walk-in' patients as well as patients referred from the Emergency Department.

The service operates:
  • 365 days a year
  • Monday to Friday from 6pm till 10pm
  • Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 2pm till 10pm
  • Provides a bulk billing service for all patients

Click here for Location and Hours!

Back to Top

Program Aims and Objectives:

The Hawkesbury After Hours GP Service provides accessible, high quality after hours primary medical care services within the Hawkesbury district, the Aims of the Hawkesbury Program are to:
  • Improve access by the community to after hours primary medical care.
  • Minimise the current individual workload for local general practitioners (GPs) in providing after hours primary medical care services.
  • Achieve a sustainable model of after hours primary medical care service delivery in the Hawkesbury district.
  • Ensure continuity of care for patients treated in the after hours period by providing timely and relevant information to the patient’s usual GP.
  • Improve the recruitment and retention of GPs in the Hawkesbury district.
Back to Top

How The Clinic Operates:

The Service provides accessible and high quality after hours primary medical care services within the Hawkesbury district. The Hawkesbury district includes, but is not limited to, the communities of Agnes Banks, Bowen Mountain, Ebenezer, Kurrajong Heights, Lower Hawkesbury, Sackville, Upper Colo, Windsor and Wisemans Ferry. Furthermore, the database shows that patients have attended the Service from a wider area e.g., Dee Why, Abbotsbury, Granville, etc.
There are currently 20 GPs participating on a rotational roster. Patients attending the Service are bulk-billed. All patients who hold a current Medicare card/DVA card are eligible for consultations.

Patients attending the Service for worker’s compensation are required to make cash payments in line with AMA WorkCover Rates for General Practitioners and are provided with a receipt for reimbursement from their employer.

The Service does not have after hours access to pathology or radiology services. Referrals are written by the GP and the patient is advised to attend during normal working hours. If the GP sees a patient that requires these services urgently, then the patient will be referred to the ED.

There are local pharmacies that operate for most of our Service hours. A list outlining the opening hours of Local Pharmacies has been developed and the Receptionist/GP advises patients accordingly. Click here for list.

Back to Top

Ensuring Continuity of Care for Patients:

The Service is promoted as an after hours support service and not as a replacement of the local GP. Patients are encouraged to have their own local GP and to sign the consent that enables us to fax/forward a copy of their consultation, and any pathology result details to their own GP on the date of the consultation. This process continues to strengthen our relationship with local GPs.

We have developed and produced a brochure “Why You Should Have Your Own GP” which is handed to patients who do not have a local GP. The brochure includes a list of local practices, their address and contact numbers and is updated regularly. Click here for a download of brochure.

Being located within the Community Health Centre has made GPs more aware of all the services provided by the allied health team and assists them with referring patients.

Back to Top

Joining the After Hours Team:

Benefits to GPs
  • Access to after hours care for your patients.
  • Assistance in meeting accreditation and PIP requirements.
  • Guaranteed minimum payment.
  • Salary packaging.
  • Reduced time on call/after hours commitments.
  • Variety of work.
 
Service Facilities
  • Ability to negotiate shifts.
  • Own Receptionist.
  • Well equipped, 2 rooms.
  • Close to Emergency Department.
  • No overheads.
  • Medications provided.
  • Suture equipment provided.

Community Benefits
  • Relieve patient load pressures in Emergency Department and patient waiting times.
  • Increased access to GP’s after hours within the LGA.
  • Provide an improved primary care service in LGA.
  • Improved access to care.
  • Improved hospital/GP integration in provision of after hours primary care.
  • Better use of acute trauma emergency services.
  • Patient’s treatment record is faxed to local GP on the evening of the presentation, if consent provided by patient.
  • Pathology results are also faxed to local GP, if consent provided by patient.
Back to Top

How Do I Join?

Contact the Service Co-ordinators, Julieann Galea/Sue Philpott, (02) 8884-9444 for a Practice Visit for a full explanation of contract requirements and financial benefits.
Back To Top

  

Updated on 01/07/08