May 2004

Friday 14 May 2004

1. ADGP Election result
The board congratulated Chris on his election as the Victorian Director on the new ADGP board, which takes office on 1 June. 

2. The Minister's response to the Divisions' Review Report
The board discussed the Minister's response to the Divisions' Review Report. The board agreed that the lack of detail provides an opportunity for Victorian divisions and GPDV to use our experience since 1992 to propose how best DoHA might implement the Minister's wishes. The response betrays a lack of knowledge of divisions in Victoria, although the situation is other States may be different. The background to GPDV's response to these opportunities also includes the need to overcome the very negative impression of SBOs' relationships with their divisions that has been given to the Minister and to DoHA by events in WA.

The board noted that under the proposed 'hub and spoke' model, it is the national body that works with SBOs and SBOs support and work with divisions, while it is the division's role to work with GPs at the grass roots level. The adoption of this structure will require all SBOs to lift their game to provide the services that divisions want.

3. Director, Primary & Community Health Branch, DHS
The board received Tracey Slatter's report on DHS issues. Tracey reported on the relationship between the department, GPDV and divisions, saying that she has the responsibility for acting as a 'broker' to help GPDV and divisions find their way into the department.

Tracey reported that

  • She is optimistic about funding for the GPR and that the aim is to ensure that GPs are confident that the SSD will be able to perform the same functions as the GPR with equal security of GP data.
  • the call for submissions for funding to expand the GP role in was being sent out that day; the criteria target areas with poor access to GPs and aim to encourage a variety of ways to improve access.
  • DHS are disappointed that the new allied health items under MedicarePlus are only available to private AHPs, which will discourage GPs from referring to public community health services, although the state funding for expanding the GP role in CHCs aims to increase this. The restriction to the private sector may also encourage AHPs to leave the public sector.

The board raised with Tracey the difficulties with hospital out-patient departments that divisions have asked GPDV to raise on behalf of GPs, and the problem of finding who to talk to with the department about the issue. Tracey said that DHS will develop a policy on ambulatory care that should help and that Angela Edwards of the Primary Care Branch is doing the work.

4. Meeting Victorian Ministers
Nola and Bill will meet with Minister Pike on 2 June. In discussion of the item for Minister Pike about Medical Displan, Wendy reported on her membership of the DHS pandemic flu committee, where she has been emphasising the importance of including GPs, as they are the ones who are usually the first to see patients.

The board received Bill's report on his securing the agreement of the Minister for Aged Care and Aboriginal Affairs, Gavin Jennings to a meeting to discuss the MedicarePlus Aged Care initiative and how best the state-funded aged care sector can make use of its incentives for GPs.