GPDV's After-Hours Program was part of a national project, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) under the National After Hours Primary Medical Care Initiative. Its aim was to promote the uptake by divisions of general practice and GPs of the provision of more effective after-hours medical services, and to ensure that developments in after-hours primary medical care contribute to improved GP/hospital integration and the development of effective linkages with other primary care services in Victoria.

The national after-hours agenda is still being pursued although the contribution by GPDV (and other states) to the Program have concluded and been relayed to DoHA. Papers developed by the GPDV Program can be found on the page GPDV After Hours Program Resources.

Role of GPDV

• Liaison with stakeholders and identification of potential for collaboration and integration between services
• Identification and dissemination of best practice
• Support to after hours service development
• Information feedback to state and Commonwealth.

Current Issues

Issues around after-hours care were identified during the course of the program, and included:

• Information transfer
• Methods of ongoing funding/ feasibility particularly funding for nurse triage, funding for telephone advice, clinics associated with hospitals, remuneration to maintain GPs on rosters
• Essential capacity (workforce/ funding)
• Access
• Flexibility (in the rapidly changing service delivery environment)
• Call centre/ triage standards
• Training for GPs
• Provider numbers
• Information dissemination
• Consumer information
• Data and service planning
• After hours components in care plans
• PIP payments
• Nurse dispensing in rural hospitals after hours
• Hospital Emergency Department and GP clinics