Media release

Review Report recommends better after hours primary care arrangements

The AMA welcomes the release last week of the After Hours Review Report and its recommendations.

AMA Vice President, Dr Stephen Parnis, said today the AMA strongly supports the Report’s recommendation to return after hours funding to the Practice Incentives Programme (PIP).

“We are pleased that the Government moved swiftly and included this change in last week’s Budget,” Dr Parnis said.

“It will encourage and support general practices to provide after hours coverage for their patients, which will in turn ensure continuity of care.”

Dr Parnis said the Review had found that shifting responsibility for after hours funding to Medicare Locals had generally been a failure.

“The performance of Medicare Locals overall on after hours varied, and the contractual arrangements in many cases unnecessarily increased red tape for general practices.

“But we acknowledge that some individual Medicare Locals had in place satisfactory arrangements.”

Dr Parnis said that the Review shares the AMA position that the new Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have a role to play in ensuring community access to after hours health services.

“The PHN focus must be on addressing gaps in the provision of those services,” Dr Parnis said.

The Review also highlighted:

  • the importance of communication with a patient’s regular GP, recommending that Medical Deputising Services should provide clinical summaries within 24 hours, which is very important for continuity of care;
  • after hours services should be targeted towards those patients with genuine clinical need;
  • local solutions, including GP phone support for after hours care, particularly when it comes to regional and rural areas; and
  • access for residents of aged care facilities and those needing palliative care.

Dr Parnis said the Review highlighted that the States and Territories also funded after hours services, particularly in rural and remote areas, and there was a need to ensure that this is integrated into the planning of future after hours services.

“This will be an important role for the new PHNs when they are up and running.”

 


18 May 2015

CONTACT:        John Flannery                     02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761 

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