New GP after hours service
The Federal Government has said it will improve access to after hours care across Australia by establishing a national after hours telephone-based General Practice medical advice and diagnostic service (this will be an add-on to the nurse triage, information and advice services currently provided by the National Health Call Centre Network trading as healthdirect Australia).
People who need to see a GP at night or on the weekend when their usual practice is closed will:
- contact their local general practice and have their call referred as necessary to healthdirect Australia
- have their condition assessed by a nurse, who will determine whether the patient should have their call transferred to an online GP
- be provided with appropriate advice and options by the nurse if the patient is not referred on to a GP
- where patients are referred on to the GP, the GP will provide further medical advice and treatment options.
To ensure appropriate continuity of care, a record of all GP consultations will be sent electronically to the patient’s usual GP the following morning.
This new, free, service will operate from 1 July 2011 and will provide access to GP advice after hours, from 6pm to 8am Monday to Thursday, 6pm Friday to 8am Monday and on national public holidays.
Further details are available from http://www.yourhealth.gov.au
